JPH09240481A - Folding seating device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) A folding seating device capable of automatically converging and unfolding a conventional folding mechanism using a bracket that performs pivoting and reversing operations, rather than manually. SOLUTION: When the rotating bracket 11 is rotated clockwise in the figure by the electric motor 16 from the unfolded posture of the apparatus of FIG. Be pulled down to. Therefore, the side bar 6 is the front leg 2
Pull back to the closed leg state. Further, the push rod 5 shifts to the upright state. Eventually, two front legs, three rear legs,
And the push rod 5 becomes substantially parallel. In this way, the convergent posture of the stroller is obtained (FIG. 1 (B)).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a foldable seating device in which a frame constituting a seating device such as a stroller, a wheelchair, an infant chair or an elderly car is developed and converged by a simple operation. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional folding stroller, for example, has a front stroller and a rear stroller which are folded to converge the front and rear widths of the stroller (usually "two-sided folding").
).

A conventional folding mechanism generally used for such a stroller will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. 4 is a side view showing the expanded state, and FIG. 5 is a side view showing the converged state. In these drawings, each member is symmetrically configured, and therefore only one side of the frame shown in each drawing will be described.

In FIG. 4, the front leg 81 and the rear leg 82 are
Pivot pins 84 supported by armrest members 83 at their upper ends
A front wheel 85 is provided at a lower end of the front leg 81, and a rear wheel 86 is provided at a lower end of the rear leg 82.

A bracket 87 is rotatably connected by a pivot pin 88 to the rear leg 82 substantially at the center in the longitudinal direction. This bracket 87 is provided from the pivot pin 88 to the rear leg 82.
And a bent shape protruding above the rear portion of the rear leg 82, and a push rod 89 is provided on the protruding portion 87b.
Are pivotally connected by a pivot pin 90. The push rod 89 is provided with a pivot pin 91 on the rear end of the armrest member 83.
The front leg 81 and the rear leg 82 are rotatably connected with each other.
In the state where the leg is opened, the push rod 89 is restricted from rotating rearward.

In the middle of the front leg 81, a front end of a side bar 92 is rotatably connected by a pivot pin 93, and a rear end of the side bar 92 is rotatably connected by a pivot pin 90 of a bracket 87. Therefore, the spread of the front leg 81 and the rear leg 82 is restricted to a constant width.

Further, above the protruding portion 87b of the bracket 87, an opening / closing lock 94 that moves up and down along a push rod 89 is provided.
Is externally fitted, and a step portion 94a formed at the lower end of the opening / closing lock 94 and a step portion 87 formed at the upper end of the bracket 87 are attached.
The bracket 87 is locked by engaging with a.

Inside the push rod 89, an elastic member (not shown) for urging a downward pulling force to the open / close lock 94 is provided, and a vertical groove 95 (see FIG. 5) is formed in the push rod 89. A driven pin 96 fixed to the opening 95 of the opening / closing lock 94 is engaged with the groove 95. As a result, the open / close lock 94 is elastically biased toward the bracket 87 and maintains the locked state in which the respective step portions 94a, 87a are engaged.
The bracket 87 can be unlocked by pulling up the open / close lock 94 against the elastic member.

In order to pull up the open / close lock 94,
Generally, an operation button (not shown) provided on the upper portion of the push rod 89 and an opening / closing lock 94 are connected by a wire (not shown), and the operation is performed by pressing the operation button.

In order to converge the front and rear width of such a conventional folding stroller to the state shown in FIG. 5, first, the open / close lock 94 is pulled up to release the locked state of the bracket 87, and then the push rod 89 is raised upward. When the bracket 87 pivots slightly in the direction of arrow A around the pivot pin 88 located below, and the push rod 89 is further pushed down, the bracket 8
7 starts the reversing operation in the direction of arrow A. Following the operation of the bracket 87, the operation of closing the front leg 81 in the direction of the arrow B via the side rod 92, the operation of vertically pushing the push rod 89, and the operation of the armrest member 83 to lie down simultaneously. Finally, the skeleton has a convergent posture as shown in FIG.

[0011]

In this way, it is the pivotal movement of the bracket 87 and the subsequent reversing movement that converge the front and rear width of the stroller. However, it is the push rod 8 that gives the pivoting motion and the reversing motion to the bracket 87.
This is due to the push-down operation of 9, which is entirely left to the manual operation of the user.

Moreover, the rotation fulcrum of the push rod 89 (the pivot pin 9
0) is on the circumference of the rotation fulcrum of the bracket 87 (the pivot pin 88), there is a dead point in the rotation movement of the bracket 87. When the pivot pin 90 of the push rod 89 is present at this dead center position, the bracket 87 does not rotate in the inversion direction even if the push rod 89 is pushed down manually, and the pivot pin 90 of the push rod 89 reaches the above-mentioned dead point. When the push rod 89 is pushed down in a state where it has not reached yet, the bracket 87 returns to the original state and does not perform any converging operation.

For this reason, the user is always required to be skilled in the operation by human power. As a specific operation, the rear wheel 8 is used.
A troublesome operation is required in which the push rod 89 is pulled downward while pulling the push rod 89 backward with the fulcrum 6 as a fulcrum, and then the push rod 89 is pushed downward to invert the bracket 87.

Such a problem exists not only in the stroller as described above, but also in a seating apparatus such as a wheelchair or an aged car having a similar skeleton in general.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a folding type seating device which can be converged and deployed without relying on an operation by human power.

[0016]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 is provided with a skeleton including a rotation bracket, and the rotation bracket is rotated to be positioned above. In a foldable seating device in which the seating device is in a deployed position, the rotating bracket is pivoted and is located below, and the seating device is in a convergent position, the seating device is unfolded and / or converged by an electric motor. It is a characteristic folding type seating device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the skeleton in which the rotating bracket is rotated to be located above and the seating device is in a deployed posture, and the rotating bracket is rotated to be located below and the seating device is in a convergent posture. In the folding type seating device including the above, the rotating bracket is rotated by an electric motor.

In the invention of claim 3, the upper ends of the front leg and the rear leg are hinged to the armrest member, the rear end of the armrest member is hinged to the push rod, and the lower end of the push rod is hinged to the rear leg. It is hinged to a rotating bracket that is connected and rotates.
A side bar having one end hinged to the pivot bracket and the other end hinged to the front leg;
In the foldable seating device in which the rotating bracket rotates and is located above and the seating device takes a deployed posture, and the rotating bracket rotates and is located below and the seating device takes a convergent posture, A foldable seating device characterized by being rotated by an electric motor.

In the invention of claim 4, the upper ends of the front leg and the rear leg are hinged to the armrest member, the rear end of the armrest member is hinged to the push rod, and the lower end of the push rod is hinged to the rear leg. It is hinged to a rotating bracket that is connected and rotates.
A side bar having one end hinged to the pivot bracket and the other end hinged to the front leg;
In the folding type seating device in which the rotating bracket is rotated to be positioned above and the seating device is in a deployed posture, and the rotating bracket is rotated to be in a lower position so that the seating device is in a convergent position, a front leg and a rear leg are provided. The angle at which the hinges are hinged is changed by an electric motor, whereby the pivot bracket is pivoted to be positioned upwards and the seating device is in a deployed posture, or the pivot bracket is pivoted to be positioned downwards so that the seating device is A foldable seating device having a convergent posture.

In the invention of claim 5, the upper ends of the front leg and the rear leg are hinged to the armrest member, the rear end of the armrest member is hinged to the push rod, and the lower end of the push rod is hinged to the rear leg. It is hinged to a rotating bracket that is connected and rotates.
A side bar having one end hinged to the pivot bracket and the other end hinged to the front leg;
In the folding type seating device in which the rotating bracket is rotated to be positioned above and the seating device is in a deployed posture, and the rotating bracket is rotated to be in a lower position so that the seating device is in a convergent position, a front leg and a rear leg are provided. The angle at which is hinged is changed by a telescopic cylinder whose both ends are hinged to the front and rear legs,
As a result, the rotation bracket is rotated to be located at the upper position and the seating device is in a deployed position, or the rotation bracket is rotated to be located at the lower position so that the seating device is in a converged position. It is a seating device.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1A is a diagram showing the structure of one side of the folding stroller of this embodiment in an unfolded state. (B) is a diagram showing a state in which the folding stroller of (A) is converged. FIG. 7C is an enlarged view of a main part of the state of FIG. In addition, in these figures, a seat and other auxiliary members are omitted for clarity.

This folding stroller is shown in FIG.
As shown in (A), the front leg 2, the rear leg 3, the armrest member 4, the push rod 5, the side rod 6, and the like are provided as side members common to the left and right. That is, the upper end of the rear leg 3 and the upper end of the front leg 2,
The central part of the armrest member 4 is rotatably supported by a pivot pin 7. At the lower ends of the front legs 2 and the rear legs 3,
Front and rear wheels 8 are provided on each.

The front leg 2, the rear leg 3, and the push rod 5 can be formed of a round pipe or other members, but the rear leg 3 and the push rod 5 are internally provided for wiring to the electric motor 16 described later. Since it is necessary to make the hollow, the pipe may be formed of a pipe member having an elliptical or square cross section, for example.

The rear end of the armrest member 4 is rotatably hinged to the push rod 5 by a pivot pin 9. Although not shown, the push rod 5 extends upward in the left and right directions, is curved in a substantially U-shape at the upper portion, and is connected via a case (not shown) at the center of the upper portion. In this case, the electric motor 16
Switches for driving the are provided. The push rod 5 can obtain a desired rearward tilt angle depending on the distance between the pivot pin 7 and the pivot pin 9 of the armrest member 4.

The lower end of the push rod 5 is hinged to the rotating bracket 11 by a pivot pin 12. At the same time, the pivot pin 12 hinges the side bar 6 once, and the other end of the side bar 6 is hinged to the middle of the front leg 2. Further, the pivot bracket 11 has a rear end of the L-shape pivotally hinged to the middle of the rear leg 3 by a pivot pin 13.

That is, the rotating bracket 11 has a double-link structure (see FIG. 1C) by two members 11 each having a substantially L shape. The push rod 5 is sandwiched between the double-link structures on one end side of the substantially L shape, and is hinged by the pivot pin 12. The pivot pin 12 is further extended to the outside of the rotating bracket 11, and the side bar 6 is hinged. Further, the rear leg 3 is sandwiched between the other ends of the substantially L-shape, and the rear end of the L-shape is rotatably hinged by a pivot pin 13 in the middle of the rear leg 3.

The pivot pin 13 is provided on the rotating bracket 11.
And is rotated together with the rotation bracket 11. The pivot pin 1 extended to the outside of the rotating bracket 11
3, the worm wheel 14 is coaxially fixed. A worm gear 15 meshes with the worm wheel 14. The worm gear 15 is rotated by the electric motor 16. By this rotation, the rotation bracket 1
1 is configured to rotate.

Further, although not shown, a plurality of horizontal bars (not shown) for connecting the left and right side members described above.
Both ends of are fixed. That is, the pivot pins 12 of the left and right side members are extended to form one horizontal bar. Further, both ends of a horizontal bar (not shown) are fixed to front leg sleeves 8A for attaching the wheels 8 to the lower ends of the left and right front legs 2, 2. By arranging and fixing these horizontal bars in parallel with each other, symmetrical rigidity of the left and right side members is secured.

The operation of the foldable seating apparatus according to the present invention constructed as above will be described below.

In FIG. 1A, the rotating bracket 11 is rotated counterclockwise in the drawing to the front limit by the electric motor 16 and is positioned above. As a result, the side bar 6 is pushed forward and simultaneously lifted upward. Therefore, the side bar 6 pushes the front leg 2 forward to bring it into the open state. Further, the push rod 5 is supported at two points by a pivot pin 12 of the rotating bracket 11 and a pivot pin 9 of the armrest member 4, and is tilted rearward. In this way, the stroller deployment position is obtained.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1B, when the rotating bracket 11 is rotated clockwise in the figure and moved downward from this deployed position, the side bar 6 is returned to the rear. At the same time, it is pulled down rearward. Therefore, the side bar 6 pulls the front leg 2 back and shifts it to the closed leg state. Further, the push rod 5 is in the upright state. Eventually, the front leg 2, the rear leg 3, and the push rod 5 become substantially parallel. Thus, the convergent posture of the stroller is obtained.

The electric motor 16 which performs such unfolding operation and converging operation is operated by a switch provided in a case (not shown) in the upper center of the push rod 5. The stroller is maintained in the deployed posture and the converged posture by the rotation resistance of the electric motor 16 in the non-energized state. However, it is of course possible to separately provide another maintenance device. (Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment described above, the rotating bracket 11 is rotated by the electric motor 16 to perform the expanding operation and the converging operation. However, the second embodiment shown in FIG. As in the embodiment, the angle at which the front leg 2 and the rear leg 3 are hingedly connected may be changed by the electric motor 16, so that the rotation bracket 11 is indirectly forced and rotated. In FIG. 2, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

That is, the pivot pin 7 that rotatably supports the upper end of the rear leg 3, the upper end of the front leg 2, and the central portion of the armrest member 4 is fixed to the front leg 2 and rotates together with the front leg 2. To do. The worm wheel 14 is coaxially fixed to the pivot pin 7. A worm gear 15 meshes with the worm wheel 14. The worm gear 15 is rotated by the electric motor 16. The electric motor 16 is fixed to the rear leg 3. This electric motor 16
It is configured to change the relative angle between the front leg 2 and the rear leg 3 by rotating the.

When the relative angle between the front leg 2 and the rear leg 3 is changed and the front leg 2 is closed, the pivot bracket 11 is indirectly pivoted and forcibly positioned above, so that the seating device takes the deployed posture. . Alternatively, when the pivot bracket is indirectly pivoted and forcibly positioned below, the seating device takes a converging posture. (Third Embodiment) In the second embodiment described above, the angle at which the front leg 2 and the rear leg 3 are hinged is changed by the electric motor 16, but as in the third embodiment shown in FIG. The front leg 2 and the rear leg 3 may be changed by a telescopic cylinder 21 hinged at both ends.

In FIG. 3, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

That is, the piston 2 of the telescopic cylinder 21
The end of 2 is hinged above the front leg 2, and the end of the cylinder 33 of the telescopic cylinder 21 is hinged below the rear leg 3. The electric motor 16 is built in the cylinder 33 of the telescopic cylinder 21 to move the piston 22. For example, a screw rod directly connected to the electric motor 16 is screwed into a nut (not shown), and the nut is fixed to the piston 22.

When the telescopic cylinder 21 is contracted by the movement of the piston 22, the front leg 2 and the rear leg 3 are closed, and the angle at which the front leg 2 and the rear leg 3 are hinged can be reduced. Therefore, the rotating bracket 11 is indirectly rotated and is forcibly positioned below, so that the seating device takes a converging posture.
Further, if the telescopic cylinder 21 extends, the front leg 2 and the rear leg 3 are opened, and the angle at which the front leg 2 and the rear leg 3 are hinged can be increased, so that the pivot bracket is indirectly pivoted and forced. When located above, the seating device assumes a deployed position.

The telescopic cylinder 21 is hinged to the upper part of the front leg 2 and the lower part of the rear leg 3 so that it is positioned substantially along the front leg 2 and the rear leg 3 in the converged posture, and thus is contracted. Even if the telescopic cylinder 21 has a long length, the entire converged state of the device can be reduced. (Other Embodiments) In the above embodiments, the electric motor 16 and the telescopic cylinder 21 are provided only on the rear leg 3 on one side, but in other embodiments, the left and right rear legs 3, 3 are provided.
It is also possible to adopt a configuration provided in the same way.

In the above embodiment, the screw rod that is directly connected to the electric motor 16 and rotates is screwed into the nut (not shown), and the nut is fixed to the piston 22. Other embodiments may have other configurations. For example, the electric motor 16 may rotate the nut.

In the above embodiment, the electric motor 16 is built in the cylinder 33 of the telescopic cylinder 21, but in other embodiments, the electric motor 16 is not driven but is driven by another fluid. You may use a cylinder.

In the above embodiment, the seating device of the present invention is described as a stroller, but other embodiments are not limited to the stroller as described above, but may be a wheelchair, an infant chair or an elderly person having a similar skeleton. It may be another seating device such as a car.

Further, in the above-described embodiments, the so-called two-sided folding in which the front and rear width of the seating device is converged or expanded has been described as an example, but in other embodiments, not only the front and rear width of the seating device but also the lateral width So-called 4 which also converges or develops
Of course, it is also possible to carry out the present invention for a folding type.

[0044]

As described above, claims 1 and 2,
According to the invention of 3, 4, or 5, the unfolding operation and / or the converging operation of the seating device are performed by the electric motor or the telescopic cylinder, so that the operation does not rely on manual operation,
The device can be easily converged and deployed.

According to the second or third aspect of the invention, the rotation of the rotation bracket, which is a so-called essential point for performing the unfolding posture and the converging posture of the seating device, is performed by the electric motor. The device can be converged and deployed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a first embodiment of a folding seating device according to the present invention, and FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a structure on one side where the device is developed. (B) is a diagram showing a structure on one side where the apparatus is being converged. (C) is an enlarged view of an essential part of (A) viewed from the C direction.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, and (A) is a diagram showing a structure on one side where the device is developed. (B) is a diagram showing a structure on one side where the apparatus is being converged. (C)
FIG. 7A is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, and (A) is a diagram showing a structure of one side of the developed device. (B) is a diagram showing a structure on one side where the apparatus is being converged.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a structure of one side of a conventional device developed.

5 is a diagram showing a structure on one side where the device of FIG. 4 is converged.

[Description of sign]

2 ... front leg, 3 ... rear leg, 4 ... armrest member, 5 ... push rod, 6 ... side rod, 16 ... electric motor, 21 ... telescopic cylinder

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A seating device comprising a skeleton including a rotating bracket, wherein the rotating bracket is rotated to be positioned above and the seating device is in a deployed position, and the rotating bracket is rotated to be positioned below. In the folding type seating device having a converging posture, the folding type seating device is characterized in that an expanding operation and / or a converging operation of the seating device is performed by an electric motor. 2. A foldable type having a skeleton in which the pivot bracket is pivoted to be located above and the seating device is in a deployed position, and the pivot bracket is pivoted to be located below to provide a seated device in a converging position. In the seating device, the folding type seating device is characterized in that the rotating bracket is rotated by an electric motor. 3. The upper ends of the front leg and the rear leg are hinged to the armrest member, the rear end of the armrest member is hinged to the push rod, and the lower end of the push rod is hinged to the rear leg to rotate. And a pivotal bracket which is hinged to the pivotal bracket and has one end hinged to the pivotal bracket and the other end of the side bar hinged to the front leg. Then, in the folding type seating device in which the seating device takes the unfolded position, the rotating bracket rotates and the seating device is in the converging position when the rotating bracket rotates downward, the rotation of the rotating bracket is performed by the electric motor. Characteristic foldable seating device. 4. The upper ends of the front leg and the rear leg are hinged to an armrest member, the rear end of the armrest member is hinged to a push rod, and the lower end of the push rod is hinged to the rear leg to rotate. And a pivotal bracket which is hinged to the pivotal bracket and has one end hinged to the pivotal bracket and the other end of the side bar hinged to the front leg. Then, in the folding type seating device in which the seating device is in the unfolded position, the rotating bracket is rotated and the seating device is in the converged position by being rotated downward, the angle at which the front leg and the rear leg are hinged is controlled by an electric motor. In other words, the folding bracket is rotated so that the seating device is in an unfolded position with the pivotal bracket pivoted upward, or the seating device is in a convergent position with the pivotal bracket pivoted and positioned downward. Ceremony wear Seat device. 5. The upper ends of the front leg and the rear leg are hinged to the armrest member, the rear end of the armrest member is hinged to the push rod, and the lower end of the push rod is hinged to the rear leg to rotate. And a pivotal bracket which is hinged to the pivotal bracket and has one end hinged to the pivotal bracket and the other end of the side bar hinged to the front leg. Then, in the folding type seating device in which the seating device takes the unfolded position, the rotation bracket rotates and the seating device is in the converging position when it is positioned below, the angle at which the front leg and the rear leg are hinged is set to the front leg. It is changed by a telescopic cylinder whose both ends are hinged to the rear leg, whereby the rotating bracket is rotated to be positioned above and the seating device is in the deployed position, or the rotating bracket is rotated to be positioned below and seated. The device is in a convergent position A foldable seating device characterized by taking