JP6063015B1 - Hand rim, main wheel structure and wheelchair - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a hand rim that improves the operational feeling of a wheelchair user. A hand rim 100 is fixed to the outside of a main wheel 11 of a wheelchair 10 and includes an inner peripheral surface 102 and an outer peripheral surface 103. The hand rim body 101 has an oval cross-sectional shape having a long axis 106 and a short axis 107, and an end of the long axis 106 on the inner peripheral surface 102 side is an outer peripheral surface 103. The long axis 106 is inclined at an inclination angle of 6 degrees to 12 degrees from the vertical direction of the wheelchair 10 so as to be positioned on the outer side in the width direction of the wheelchair 10 with respect to the end portion on the side. [Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a hand rim attached to a main wheel of a wheelchair, and a main wheel structure and a wheelchair provided with the hand rim.

  A wheelchair occupant can move the wheelchair forward or backward by gripping and rotating the hand rim attached to the outside of the main wheel.

  For example, the hand rim (1) of Patent Document 1 (the numbers in () correspond to the reference numerals of Patent Document 1) has an outer shell structure in which the outer shell is formed of a fiber reinforced resin material and has a hollow portion inside. And has an annular shape as a whole and is formed integrally. The hand rim (1) is formed with a nut mounting hole (31) for mounting the insert nut (11), and a flat portion (32) perpendicular to the central axis of the nut mounting hole. Then, the hand rim (1) is attached in a direction orthogonal to the radial plane axis (20a) of the drive wheel (20).

JP 2007-267905 A

  A conventional hand rim as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is formed in a substantially circular shape in cross-sectional view, and is attached so that a plane axis in the radial direction of the hand rim is parallel to a plane axis of the wheel. When a wheelchair user operates the hand rim while sitting in a wheelchair, attach the hand rim so that the index finger, middle finger, and other fingers are along the inner peripheral surface with the thumb and hand belly attached to the outer peripheral surface of the hand rim. Hold. However, since the substantially circular cross-sectional shape of the hand rim of Patent Document 1 does not match the curvature of the back of the hand, the hand rim cannot be gripped with a natural feel. In particular, when the hand of the wheelchair user is small, the problem is that it is difficult to grip the hand rim. That is, it is required to provide a hand rim with improved ease of gripping by a wheelchair user.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a hand rim that improves the operational feeling of a wheelchair user, and a wheelchair in which the hand rim is attached to a main wheel. It is in.

The wheelchair according to claim 1
A side frame having a seat frame and a back frame;
A main wheel pivotally attached to the side frame;
A hand rim fixed to the outer surface of the main wheel so as to be able to rotate synchronously with the main wheel,
The hand rim is
An endless annular hand rim body having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface;
The hand rim body has an elliptical cross section having a major axis and a minor axis,
The long axis has an inclination angle α of 6 degrees to 10 degrees from the vertical direction of the wheelchair so that the end on the inner peripheral surface side of the long axis is positioned on the outer side in the width direction of the wheelchair than the end on the outer peripheral surface side. Inclined ,
A distance d between the outer surface of the side frame and the outer surface of the hand rim is 70 mm to 100 mm;
The length of the arm of the wheelchair user is defined as L, and the inclination angle α and the distance d are determined based on the length L of the arm of the wheelchair user so that sin (α) is substantially equal to d / L. It is characterized by being .

Wheelchair according to claim 2, in a wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the inclination angle is 8 degrees.

  According to the present invention, the long axis of the wheelchair is such that the end on the inner peripheral surface side of the long axis of the ellipse that forms the cross section of the hand rim body is located on the outer side in the width direction of the wheelchair than the end on the outer peripheral surface side. It is inclined at an inclination angle of 6 to 10 degrees from the vertical direction. That is, since the hand rim body has an oval shape in cross-sectional view, an effect of being easily fitted and gripped by the hand of the wheelchair user is exhibited. Furthermore, when the user of the wheelchair grips the hand rim while sitting on the wheelchair, the arm is inclined so as to open outward from the vertical direction of the wheelchair. In accordance with the inclination of the arm, the long axis of the elliptical cross section of the hand rim body is determined to incline at an inclination angle of 6 degrees to 10 degrees (most preferably 8 degrees) from the vertical direction of the wheelchair. Accordingly, the hand rim can be grasped without twisting the wrist inward or outward while the arm is inclined in a natural state. That is, the hand rim of the present invention is inclined at an angle at which a wheelchair user can reach the hand rim and naturally hold it, so that the burden on the back of the hand can be reduced and the ease of gripping can be greatly improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS (a) Side view, (b) Top view, and (c) AA sectional drawing of the handrim for wheelchairs of one Embodiment of this invention. The partial expanded sectional view of FIG.1 (c). The front view of the wheelchair equipped with the hand rim of FIG. The front view which shows the usage example of the wheelchair of FIG. (A) The schematic diagram which shows the usage example of the hand rim of the wheelchair of this embodiment, and (b) The schematic diagram which shows the usage example of the hand rim of the wheelchair of a comparative example. The (a) side view, (b) top view, and (c) BB sectional drawing of the handrim for wheelchairs of another embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the shape of each figure referred in the following description is a conceptual diagram or a schematic diagram for explaining a suitable shape dimension, and a dimension ratio etc. do not necessarily correspond with an actual dimension ratio. That is, the present invention is not limited to the dimensional ratio in the drawings.

  1A to 1C are a side view, a plan view, and a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the hand rim 100 of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged sectional view of FIG. The side view of the hand rim 100 is substantially the same on the inner surface side and the outer surface side, except for the presence or absence of a fixing hole. Moreover, the front view, rear view, plan view, and bottom view of the hand rim 100 are common due to the annular shape.

  The hand rim 100 includes an endless annular hand rim body 101 having an inner peripheral surface 102 and an outer peripheral surface 103. The hand rim body 101 has an inner surface 104 disposed on the outer surface side of the main wheel 11 of the wheelchair 10 and an outer surface 105 disposed so as to face outward in the width direction of the wheelchair 10. While the inner peripheral surface 102 and the outer peripheral surface 103 are curved surfaces, the inner side surface 104 and the outer side surface 105 are flat surfaces. Further, the radial plane of the hand rim 100 is determined to be parallel to the radial plane of the main wheel 11 of the wheelchair 10. In FIG. 2, the locus of the circumference located on the side closest to the wheelchair 10 on the inner side surface 104 is shown as the plane axis 108.

  Further, four fixing holes 109 are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction so as to penetrate the inner side surface 104 of the hand rim body 101. Bolt holes are formed on the outer surface of the main wheel 11 of the wheelchair 10 at positions corresponding to the fixed holes 109. Then, a bolt is passed through the fixing hole 109 and the bolt hole, and the hand rim 100 is fixed to the outer surface of the main wheel 11 via a collar for inserting the shaft of the bolt (see FIG. 3).

  And the cross-sectional shape cut | disconnected along the radial direction of the hand rim main body 101 is the same shape and continues in the circumferential direction. That is, the hand rim main body 101 has the same shape even if it is cut at any position in the circumferential direction (except for the fixing hole 108). As shown in FIG. 2, the cross-sectional shape of the hand rim body 101 is an oval shape having a major axis 106 and a minor axis 107. The major axis 106 and the minor axis 107 intersect at a right angle, and an ellipse shape is determined by the lengths of the major axis 106 and the minor axis 107. The lengths of the major axis 106 and the minor axis 107 are preferably about 30 mm to 40 mm and about 19 mm to 22 mm, respectively. In this embodiment, the length of the long axis 106 is 34 mm, and the length of the short axis 107 is 22 mm. However, it can be arbitrarily changed according to the target wheelchair user.

  Further, in the cross-sectional shape of the hand rim 100, the long axis 106 is inclined at an inclination angle α from the plane axis 108 (the vertical direction of the wheelchair 10), and the end on the inner peripheral edge 102 side of the long axis 106 is the end on the outer peripheral edge 103 side. It is located in the width direction outside of wheelchair 10. That is, the inner peripheral surface 102 of the hand rim body 101 is formed so as to be biased toward the outer surface 105 than the outer peripheral surface 103. In the present embodiment, the inclination angle α is 8 degrees.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the wheelchair 10 to which the hand rim 100 of the present embodiment is attached. The wheelchair 10 is configured by connecting a plurality of metal pipe-shaped frames. The wheelchair 10 includes a pair of side frames 12 connected to each other, and main wheels 11 are pivotally supported on the outer sides of the side frames 12. A pair of front wheels are provided in front of the main wheel 11. The side frame 12 includes a seat frame 13 on which a cloth-like seat sheet is stretched, and a back frame 14 on which a cloth-like backrest sheet extending upward from the seat frame 13 is stretched. The distance between the pair of seat frames 13 is determined as the seat width w of the wheelchair 10. In this embodiment, the seat width w is 400 mm, but can be arbitrarily changed by those skilled in the art. The wheelchair 10 has a crossbar structure that connects the pair of side frames 12 below the seat frame 13 and is configured to be foldable in the width direction.

  Further, the hand rim 100 is fixed to the outer surface of the main wheel 11 so as to be separated by a distance d between the outer surface of the side frame 12 and the outer surface of the hand rim 100. The distance d is determined to be 85 mm. The distance d is preferably 70 mm to 100 mm. This is because a wheelchair user having a standard physique can hold the hand rim 100 with his arms naturally extended.

  FIG. 4 shows a state in which a wheelchair user sits on the wheelchair 10. Wheelchair users are depicted as a standard physique. As shown in FIG. 4, according to the distance d, the wheelchair user holds the hand rim 100 in a state where the heel is slightly opened and the arm is naturally lowered. At this time, the arm of the wheelchair user is inclined outward from the vertical direction of the wheelchair 10. The long axis 106 having an elliptical cross section of the hand rim 100 is inclined at an inclination angle α (= 8 degrees) from the vertical direction so as to approach the inclination angle of the arm. That is, when the wheelchair user grasps the hand rim 100, the oval cross section is inclined at the inclination angle α in accordance with the inclination direction of the arm, so that the burden on the back of the hand is reduced.

  In the present invention, the inclination angle α is preferably 6 degrees to 10 degrees. When the inclination angle α exceeds 10 degrees, it has been found in the prototype that a wheelchair user cannot feel the ease of grasping because the back of the hand is bent outward in a posture where the arm is naturally lowered. On the other hand, when the inclination angle is smaller than 6 degrees, it has been found in the prototype that the improvement in ease of gripping cannot be sufficiently realized as compared with the case where the inclination angle is not provided. This can be attributed to the angle between the wrist and the back of the hand when the hand rim is gripped.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the length L of the arm of the wheelchair user is assumed to be about 610 mm, and the inclination angle α (= 8 degrees) and the distance d (= 85 mm) are determined. These relationships are expressed by the formula (sin (α) to d / L). As a result, the feeling of improvement in ease of gripping was obtained at an inclination angle of 8 degrees. Further, it is possible to optimize the ease of gripping by changing the distance d according to the physique of the wheelchair user (arm length or the like) while fixing the inclination angle α.

  Fig.5 (a) is the elements on larger scale of the hand rim 100 vicinity which the wheelchair user of FIG. 4 grips. FIG. 5B is a schematic view of the wheelchair 10 ′ in which the long axis 106 ′ is arranged vertically. As shown in FIG. 5 (a), since the long axis 106 of the hand rim 100 is inclined at an inclination angle α, the back of the hand is inclined along the extension direction of the arm, and a natural posture with less burden on the back of the hand is taken. ing. The distance between the inner surface 104 of the hand rim 100 and the outer surface of the main wheel 11 at the lower end (inner peripheral surface 102 side) of the long shaft 106 of the hand rim 100 is larger than the distance at the upper end (outer peripheral surface 103 side). . On the other hand, in the wheelchair 10 ′ in which the long axis 106 ′ is arranged vertically as shown in FIG. 5B, the distance between the inner surface 104 ′ of the hand rim 100 ′ and the outer surface of the main wheel 11 ′ is uniform. Generally, when operating the hand rim, the hand rim is gripped so that the thumb and palm of the palm are attached to the outer peripheral surface, and the index finger and middle finger are along the inner peripheral surface from the inner peripheral surface. That is, it is preferable that the space on the inner peripheral surface side is wider than the space on the outer peripheral surface side of the hand rim. In the hand rim 100 ′ as shown in FIG. 5B, the space between the inner side surface 104 ′ and the outer side surface of the main wheel 100 ′ is narrow, so it is relatively difficult to hide the finger from the inner peripheral side of the hand rim 100. It is. On the other hand, in the hand rim 100 of the present embodiment, the space on the inner peripheral surface 104 side in which the finger enters is widened by the inclination angle α. That is, by providing the inclination angle α, the hand rim 100 has a shape that is easier to grip.

  In addition, the hand rim 100 of this embodiment is manufactured by press work with aluminum. As such, the hand rim 100 has several advantages such as being lightweight, strong, and easy or capable of surface treatment and coating. However, the hand rim of the present invention is not limited to this, and may be formed by molding a synthetic resin.

  The effect of the hand rim 100 of this embodiment is demonstrated.

  According to the present embodiment, the end on the inner peripheral surface 102 side of the long shaft 106 having an elliptical cross section of the hand rim main body 101 is positioned on the outer side in the width direction of the wheelchair 10 than the end on the outer peripheral surface 105 side. The long axis 105 is inclined at an inclination angle α = 8 degrees from the vertical direction of the wheelchair 10. That is, since the hand rim main body 101 has an oval cross-sectional view, the effect of being easily fitted and gripped by the hand of the wheelchair user is exhibited. Further, in accordance with the inclination of the arm of the wheelchair user, the long axis 105 having an oval cross section of the hand rim body 101 is determined to be inclined at 8 degrees from the vertical direction of the wheelchair 10. Thereby, the wheelchair user can grasp the hand rim 100 without twisting the wrist inward and outward while the arm is inclined in a natural state. Furthermore, in the hand rim 100 according to the present embodiment, the space on the inner peripheral surface 104 side where the finger sinks is widened by the inclination angle α, so that the hand rim 100 can be gripped more firmly. That is, the hand rim 100 of the present embodiment is inclined at an angle α that allows the wheelchair user to reach the hand rim 100 and grip it naturally, so that the burden on the back of the hand is reduced and the ease of gripping can be greatly improved. Is possible.

[Modification]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various embodiments and modifications can be taken. Hereinafter, modifications of the present invention will be described. In addition, in each embodiment, the component which the last two digits have in common among the components shown by three digits has the same or similar characteristics unless otherwise specified, and a part of the description is omitted.

(1) In the present embodiment, the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface form a circle without irregularities, but like the hand rim 200 shown in FIG. 5, the outer peripheral surface and / or the inner peripheral surface are alternately continuous. An uneven curved surface may be formed.

(2) In the present embodiment, the elliptical cross section is formed by combining a flat (straight) inner / outer surface and a curved (arc) inner / outer peripheral surface. However, the “oval” of the present invention is a concept including an elliptical shape, and the entire cross-sectional shape may be curved along the major axis and the minor axis.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and can be implemented in various modes as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Wheelchair 11 Main wheel 12 Side frame 13 Seat frame 14 Back frame 100 Hand rim 101 Hand rim main body 102 Inner peripheral surface 103 Outer peripheral surface 104 Inner side surface 105 Outer side surface 106 Long axis 107 Short axis 108 Planar axis 109 Fixed hole α Inclination angle d Distance between hand rim outer edge and side frame w Seat width

Claims (2)

A side frame having a seat frame and a back frame;
A main wheel pivotally attached to the side frame;
A hand rim fixed to the outer surface of the main wheel so as to be able to rotate synchronously with the main wheel,
The hand rim is
An endless annular hand rim body having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface;
The hand rim body has an elliptical cross section having a major axis and a minor axis,
The long axis has an inclination angle α of 6 degrees to 10 degrees from the vertical direction of the wheelchair so that the end on the inner peripheral surface side of the long axis is located on the outer side in the width direction of the wheelchair than the end on the outer peripheral surface side. in is inclined,
A distance d between the outer surface of the side frame and the outer surface of the hand rim is 70 mm to 100 mm;
The length of the arm of the wheelchair user is defined as L, and the inclination angle α and the distance d are determined based on the length L of the arm of the wheelchair user so that sin (α) is substantially equal to d / L. Wheelchair characterized by being . The wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the inclination angle α is 8 degrees.

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