JPH11273A - Bathing auxiliary device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a bathing auxiliary device to be used at a bath tub in a general house as it is by providing a spiral shaft for vertically moving which. rotate-drives by means of a power motor and a seat frame vertically moving by the rotation of this spiral shaft for a main frame freely detachably installed in the bathtub so as to reduce the size and weight of the whole device. SOLUTION: The spiral shaft 2 for vertically moving which rotate-drives by means of the forward and backward power motor 14 connectable to a power source for family of AC100V and a seat frame 3 vertically moving by the rotation of this spiral shaft 2 are provided for the main frame 1 freely detachably installed in the bathtub W. Then a water-tight cable 28 connecting a water-tight push button switch 27 is extended to the neighborhood of the seat part 22a of a chair without legs part 22 from the motor 14 and a bathing person M performs the vertically moving operation of the frame 3 by pressing the buttons a and b of the switch 27 in the state of sitting in the part 22 of the frame 3. Thereby, the bathing person M himself freely moves up and down the frame 3 to freely take a bath.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bathing assist device used for bathing a person who needs nursing care, such as a bedridden sick person or a person with a physical disability, at home.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of bathing assisting devices for those who need nursing care have been proposed. However, most of the devices are large and large-scale devices. It can be used only in special bathtubs such as hospitals, and if it is to be used in ordinary households, the entire bathroom must be enlarged and a dedicated bathtub must be installed. It can be more expensive.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a bathing assisting device which is simple in structure and small in size and can be manufactured at a low cost, and which can be easily installed in a general home bathtub and used easily. And

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bathing assisting apparatus comprising a lifting screw shaft 2 rotatably driven by an electric motor 14 on a main frame 1 removably mounted in a bathtub W. And a seat frame 3 that moves up and down by the rotation of the screw shaft 2.
Are provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the bathing assist device according to the first aspect, the seat frame 3 extends from the electric motor 14 installed at the upper end of the main frame 1 to the vicinity of the chair 22 of the seat frame 3. The lifting operation can be performed by a watertight push button switch 27 connected to an extended watertight cable 28.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the bathing assist device according to the first or second aspect, the main frame 1 extends vertically in a state where the main frame 1 is slightly inclined backward with respect to the seat frame 3 on both left and right sides of the elevating screw shaft 2. It has a pair of guide rails 17, 17, and a pair of guide rollers 19, 19 provided on the lower portion of the rear surface of the seat frame 3 are engaged with the guide rails 17, 17.
Nut member 15 having its upper rear side screwed onto the elevating screw shaft 2
It is attached to.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the bathing assistance device according to the third aspect, wherein a pair of seat frame tilting guides having a larger inclination angle than the pair of guide rails are provided below the pair of guide rails. The rails 18 are connected in series.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the bathing assistance device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the seat belt is attached to the seat frame.
Is attached.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the bathing assistance device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the main frame 1 is a main frame main body 1a.
And a leg 1b connected to the lower end of the main frame body 1a. A suction cup 10 that can be attached to the bottom surface of the bathtub W is attached to the front, rear, left and right of the leg 1b.

[0010] A seventh aspect of the present invention is the bathing assist device according to the sixth aspect, wherein the two suction cups 1 facing front and rear or left and right.
The suction releasing operation rod 39 is connected over 0 and 10.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a state in which a bathing assist device K according to the present invention is installed and used in a bathtub W of a general household bathroom, and FIG. 2 is shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a rear view (rear view) of the bathing assisting device K shown in FIG. 1. As can be seen from these figures, the bathing assisting device K includes a main frame 1 detachably mounted in a bathtub W and a vertically movable motor 14 rotatable by a forward / reverse electric motor 14 connectable to a household power supply of AC100V. 1 and a seat frame 3 that moves up and down by the rotation of the screw shaft 2.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the main frame 1 includes a pair of vertical frames 4, 4 on both sides, an upper frame 5 connecting the upper ends of the vertical frames 4, 4, and a lower side of the vertical frames 4, 4. A main frame body 1a composed of an inclined frame 7, 7 provided so as to project obliquely forward from the lower part of the horizontal member 6 and the vertical frames 4, 4 which are suspended horizontally, and a lower end of the main frame main body 1a. It is formed by the legs 1b integrally connected. The leg portion 1b is placed on the bottom surface of the bathtub W, and is formed in a rectangular frame shape by a pair of left and right lower frames 8, 8 and front and rear frames 9, 9 connecting front ends of the both lower frames 8, 8. Suction cups 10 that can be sucked to the bottom surface of the bathtub W are attached to four places in front, rear, left and right of the leg 1b. Each of the frame members 4 to 7 forming the main frame main body 1a and each of the frame members 8 and 9 forming the leg 1b are formed of stainless steel, respectively.

The elevating screw shaft 2 is disposed at a middle position in the width direction between the two vertical frames 4 and 4 of the main frame body 1a, and upper and lower ends thereof are provided by bearings 11 and 12 provided on the upper frame 5 and the horizontal member 6, respectively. The upper end of the lifting screw shaft 2 is supported on the upper frame 5 by a pedestal 13.
And is interlocked with the electric motor 14 installed. 3 and 4 on the upper side of the elevating screw shaft 2.
(A), the nut member 15 which moves up and down by the rotation of the screw shaft 2 is screwed into the nut member 15 and the left and right ends of the nut member 15 are horizontally and integrally protruded. Has been established.

As shown in FIG. 2, a leg 1b of the main frame 1 is provided.
Is arranged horizontally on the floor of the bathtub W, but the main frame body 1a
The left and right vertical frames 4 and 4 are arranged so as to extend in the vertical direction with the rear frames slightly inclined with respect to the seat frame 3. The two vertical frames 4, 4 have a pair of rearwardly inclined guide rails 1 on both sides in a region extending parallel to each other from an intermediate portion in the height direction and downward.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the inclined frames 8, 8 which form the first and second vertical frames 4, 4 and extend obliquely forward from the lower portions of the vertical frames 4, 4, have an inclination angle greater than that of the guide rails 17, 17. A pair of seat frame tilting guide rails 18 are formed which are large and are continuous with the guide rails 17. As shown in FIG. 4B, a pair of guide rollers 19 provided on the lower portion of the rear surface of the seat frame 3 are provided.
19 is engaged with the guide rails 17 on the side of the vertical frames 4, 4, and as shown in FIG. 1A, the upper rear surface of the seat frame 3 is screwed onto the screw shaft 2 for elevating. The nut member 1
5 is attached via a pair of brackets 20, 20 on both sides.
Are formed.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the seat frame 3 has flanges 21b, 21b along both side edges of the flat plate portion 21a.
And a seat frame body 21 having a substantially L-shape in side view and a seat section 22 attached along the seat frame body 21 as shown in FIGS. A part 22a and a backrest part 22b are formed. The seat frame body 21 is formed of a stainless steel material, but the chair 22 may be formed of a stainless material or plastic.
Further, flanges 21b, 21b are provided on the lower side of the seat frame body 21.
The guide rollers 19, 19 are rotatably supported at both ends of a horizontal support shaft 23 mounted over the support shaft.
As shown in FIG. 4A, the seat frame 3 has
A pair of brackets 20, 20 on both sides project from the upper end of the rear surface of the bracket 1. 16, 16 annular groove portions 16a, 1 for latching
6a is detachably hung from above, and the seat frame body 21
A pair of guide rollers 19 provided on the lower side of
Reference numeral 19 denotes guide rails 17, 17 on the vertical frames 4, 4 of the main frame 1.
The guide rails 18 and 18 are removably engaged with the guide rails 18 and 18 and are rolled by being guided by the guide rails 17 and 18.

As can be understood from the above description, the main frame 1 and the seat frame 3 are separable from each other, and when the seat frame 3 is attached to the main frame 1, the main frame 1 and the seat frame 3 are projected from the upper end of the rear surface of the seat frame body 21. Hook portion 2 for both left and right brackets 20
0a, 20a are formed in the annular groove portions 16 of the left and right hooked shafts 16, 16 of the nut member 15 screwed to the elevating screw shaft 2.
a, 16a, and a pair of guide rollers 19, 19 provided on the lower side of the seat frame body 21.
May be engaged with the vertical rails 4, 4 side guide rails 17, 17 of the main frame 1. When separating the seat frame 3 from the main frame 1, the entire seat frame 3 is lifted, and both the left and right sides of the seat frame 3, which are hooked on the left and right hooked shafts 16, 16 of the nut member 15. Brackets 20, 20 are attached to both hooked shafts 1.
What is necessary is just to extract from 6,16.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the electric motor 14 is connected to an outlet 26 provided in a bathroom by inserting a plug 25 of a power cord 24 into an AC power source.
Connected to 100V household power supply. This power cord 2
4 and its plug 25 have a watertight structure so as not to leak even if water is applied. A watertight cable 28 to which a watertight push button switch 27 is connected extends from the electric motor 14 to a position near the seat 22 a of the seat 22, and the bather M can take a seat in the seat frame 3. By pressing the buttons a and b of the switch 27 while sitting on the unit 22, the seat frame 3 can be moved up and down.

In this case, the button a of the push button switch 27 is, for example, a button for raising operation, and the button b is a button for lowering operation. When the button a is pressed, the electric motor 14 is activated and the seat frame 3 is raised. While the button is pressed, the seat frame 3 continues to rise, and when released, the electric motor 14 stops. Also,
When the button b is pressed, the electric motor 14 starts and the seat frame 3
Descends, and while pushing it, the seat frame 3 continues to descend,
Release to stop. Although not shown, the lifting screw 2
Switch means (for example, a proximity switch) for stopping the driving of the electric motor 14 at the ascending limit position and the descending limit position of the seat frame 3 is provided on the movement path of the nut member 15 which moves up and down by the rotation of. .

The cable 28 and the push-button switch 27 have a watertight structure so as not to leak electricity even if it is splashed with water or immersed in the bathtub W. Further, the watertight cable 28 has a structure that is flexible and can be held in an arbitrary bent state so that the push button switch 27 can be fixed at a required position. The electric motor 14 is also provided with a waterproof cover 29 to prevent water from splashing. Even if the push-button switch 27 is immersed in the bathtub W and a short circuit occurs, the voltage of the switch circuit is kept low, so that there is no adverse effect on the human body.

In the above embodiment, the electric motor 14 is connected to a household power supply, but it is needless to say that a power supply from a dry battery or a storage battery (battery) may be used. The electric motor 14 may be operated by a wireless method, for example, in addition to the above-mentioned watertight cable 28 as a switch for operating the electric motor 14.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, both vertical frames 4 and 4 forming the main frame main body 1a of the main frame 1 are provided with the main frame 1 at opposite required height positions on both left and right sides of the bathtub W. Side walls S, S
A pair of tension members 30, which are supported in a tension state between
30 are provided. Each of the strut members 30 includes a screw tube 30a protruding horizontally on the outer surface of each vertical frame 4, a screw shaft 30b screwed into the screw tube 30a, and a screw shaft 3
0b and a screw shaft 30c
b), the rotating shaft 30b is appropriately extended and contracted with respect to the screw tube 30a by rotating the disk 30d, and the suction cup 30c is brought into close contact with the side wall S of the bathtub W. be able to.

The main frame body 1a of the main frame 1 has a backup member 3 mounted and fixed to the rear side of the bathtub W as shown in FIG.
It may be supported by one. In this backup member 31, a support frame 32 is fixed to the upper surface of the rear side wall of the bathtub W with knob bolts 33, and the front end of the support frame 32 is connected to both vertical frames 4 and 4 of the main frame body 1a via hinges 34. Things.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the seat frame 3 is provided with a seat belt 35 for keeping the bather M seated on the chair 22 in a stable state. The seat belt 35 includes a pair of left and right flexible belt members 35a, 35a formed of nylon or the like. One end of each of the two belt members 35a, 35a is fixed to the seat frame main body 21, respectively. Absorbing cloths (not shown) are attached to the free ends 35a, 35a, respectively, and the abdomen of the bather M seating both belt members 35a, 35a on the chair 22 as shown in FIG. The locking cloths at the free ends are locked to each other.

As described above, suction cups 10 which can be attached to the bottom surface of the bathtub W are attached to the legs 1b of the main frame 1 at four positions in the front, rear, left and right directions, as shown in FIGS. 10 is attached to the end of the frame member 9 forming the leg 1b by a mounting bolt 36 and a nut 37 provided integrally therewith. A projection 38 with a through hole is integrally provided at a required upper surface of each suction cup 10. As can be seen from FIG. 6, the protrusions 38, 38 of the two suction cups 10, 10 opposing each other in the front-rear direction are operated by the suction releasing operation rod 39.
Are linked by The suction releasing operation rod 39 has both ends bent in an L-shape, and is inserted into the through holes of the projections 38, 38, respectively.
As shown by the solid line in FIG.

When the two suction cups 10, 10 are fixed to the bottom surface of the bathtub W by suction, the operation lever 39 for releasing suction is raised up as shown by phantom lines in FIGS. By lifting this, both projections 38,
A part of the suction cups 10, 10 is pulled upward through 38, and the suction is released. Therefore, when the main frame 1 is removed from the bathtub W, the two suction cups 10, 10 can be simultaneously released by lifting the suction releasing operation rod 39 as described above. Work becomes easy.

As shown in FIG. 7, a suction releasing operation rod 39 connecting the two suction cups 10 and 10 on the left side and a suction releasing operation rod 39 connecting the two suction cups 10 and 10 on the right side. Is connected by the connecting rod 40, the suction state of the four front, rear, left and right suction cups 10 can be simultaneously released only by lifting the connecting rod 40,
The work of removing the main frame 1 is further facilitated. Here, the two suction cups 10, 10 facing each other before and after being attached to the leg portion 1 b are connected by the suction releasing operation rods 39, but the suction releasing operation rods 39 oppose each other right and left. You may make it connect two suction cups 10,10.

In using the bathing assisting device K having the above-described structure, the caregiver operates the push button switch 27 to raise the height of the seat frame 3 as shown in FIGS. The seat 22a of the chair 22 may be set in advance at a position slightly higher than the upper end of the bathtub W. The caregiver holds the bather M such as a sick person to the bathtub W, and first moves the bather M to the seat 22a of the chair 22 as shown in the solid line in FIG. Then, the bather M is rotated 90 degrees around the waist on the seat 22a so as to face forward as shown by the imaginary line in the figure, and the back is directly supported by the backrest 22b, and then the seat belt 35 To the abdomen of the bather M.

As described above, the bather M is moved to the chair 22
After sitting on the front and wearing the seat belt 35, if the bather M can use the hands freely, the bather M
The user may operate the push button switch 27 to lower the seat frame 3. In this case, since there is a push button switch 27 near the bather M sitting on the chair 22, when the button b is pressed, the electric motor 14 is activated and the elevating screw shaft 2 rotates, Due to the downward movement of the nut member 15 due to the rotation of the screw shaft 2, the seat frame 3 gradually descends from the position shown by the solid line in FIG. I will be immersed in.

At this time, the guide roller 1 on the seat frame 3 side
9 and 19 roll along the guide rails 17 and 17 on the side of the vertical frames 4 and 4 of the main frame 1 until the abdomen of the bather M is immersed in hot water. 19, 19 are guide rails 1 for tilting the seat frame on the tilt frame 8 side.
8 and 18, whereby the seat frame 3 gradually tilts backward. Then, when the seat frame 3 descends to the bottom of the bathtub W and the guide rollers 19, 19 reach the lower ends of the seat frame tilting guide rails 18, 18, the seat frame 3 is moved as shown by a virtual line in FIG. As a result, the bather M on the chair 22 can bathe sufficiently in the bath to reach the shoulder.

As described above, the seat frame 3 is inclined backward when lowered to the bottom of the bathtub W, so that the depth of the bathtub W is relatively shallow or the hot water in the bathtub W is not full. Even in such a case, the bather M can be sufficiently immersed in the bath to the shoulder, and the bather can be bathed in a stable posture.

When the bathing is completed, the seat frame 3 may be raised from the position shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 2 to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 by pressing the button a of the push button switch 27. In this raised position, after the seat belt 35 is removed, the bather M in the forward facing state is rotated 90 degrees about the waist on the seat 22a by the caregiver to be in the horizontal state as shown by the solid line in FIG. The bather M may be taken out and moved to a predetermined place.

According to the bathing assist device K as described above,
Since the whole device is small, it can be used as it is in the bathtub W of ordinary households, and the structure is simple.
It is easy to manufacture and can be provided at low cost. Further, since the elevating screw shaft 2 is driven to rotate by the electric motor 14 which can be connected to a household power source, the seat frame 3 can be easily moved up and down. In addition, this seat frame 3
Is a watertight cable 28 extending from the electric motor 14 installed at the upper end of the main frame 1 to near the chair 22 of the seat frame 3.
Can be operated by the watertight push button switch 27 connected to the user, so that the bather M himself / herself can freely perform the raising / lowering operation of the seat frame 3 if the bather M can use the hands freely. it can.

In the bathing assisting device K, a pair of guide rollers 19, 19 provided on the lower portion of the rear surface of the seat frame main body 21 forming the seat frame 3 are formed on the main frame main body 1a of the main frame 1 slightly. This is configured to engage the pair of guide rails 17, 17 extending on the both sides extending in the vertical direction in a state of being inclined backward, and to hook the upper rear surface of the seat frame main body 21 to the nut member 15 of the lifting screw 2. The rotation of the nut member 15 is prevented by the seat frame 3, so that a special member for preventing the rotation of the nut member 15 is not required, and the configuration is simplified accordingly.

A pair of brackets 20, 20 having hooking portions 20a, 20a formed at the ends thereof are provided at the upper portion of the rear surface of the seat frame body 21.
The hook members 20a, 20a are detachably hooked from above into the annular grooves 16a, 16a of the hooked shafts 16, 16 projecting from the left and right sides of the nut member 15, and the seat frame main body. The two guide rollers 19, 19 provided at the lower part of the rear surface of the main frame 21 are connected to the two guide rails 1 of the main frame body 1 a.
7 and 17, the main frame 1
By simply operating the seat frame 3 upward, the seat frame 3 can be separated and disassembled from the main frame 1, and the mounting of the seat frame 3 on the main frame 1 can be simplified.

[0035]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the entire apparatus can be made compact and lightweight, so that it can be used as it is in a general home tub, and its structure is simple, so that its manufacture is easy. It can be provided at low cost. Also,
Since the elevating screw shaft is driven to rotate by the electric motor, the seat frame can be easily moved up and down and bathing can be performed easily.

According to the second aspect, the seat frame is moved up and down by a watertight push button switch connected to a watertight cable extending from the electric motor installed at the upper end of the main frame to a position near the seat portion of the seat frame. Since the bather can be used freely, the bather can freely go up and down the seat frame and freely take a bath if the bather can use his hands freely. Also,
Since the cable and the push button switch and the watertight structure are used, even if water is splashed on or immersed in the bathtub, there is no leakage and safety is ensured.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a pair of guide rails are formed on the main frame and extend vertically in a state where the guide rails are slightly inclined with respect to the seat frame. Since the nut is engaged with the two guide rails and the upper portion of the rear surface of the seat frame is attached to the nut member screwed to the elevating screw shaft, the rotation of the nut member is prevented by the seat frame. A special member for preventing rotation of the member is not required, and the configuration is correspondingly simplified.

According to the fourth aspect, a pair of seat frame tilting guide rails having a larger inclination angle than the pair of guide rails are continuously provided below the pair of guide rails. When the seat frame descends, the seat frame assumes a backward tilted posture, so that even if the bathtub is relatively shallow or the bathtub is not full, the bather should be fully seated in the bath. It can be immersed and bathe in a stable posture.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the seat belt is attached to the seat frame, the use of the seat belt allows a bather such as a person with a physical disability to sit in a stable state and take a bath. It can be done safely.

According to the sixth aspect, the main frame includes a main frame main body,
It is composed of a leg connected to the lower end thereof, and suction cups that can be attached to the bottom of the bathtub are attached to at least four front, rear, right and left of the leg, so that the main frame can be placed in the bathtub. In addition, the bottom of the bathtub is not damaged, and the legs can be securely fixed to the bottom of the bathtub, so that the main frame can be stably mounted.

According to the seventh aspect, since the suction releasing operation rod is connected across the two suction cups facing front and rear or left and right, the lifting release operation rod is lifted when the main frame is removed from the bathtub. This makes it possible to simultaneously release the suction of the two front and rear suction cups, thereby facilitating the work of removing the main frame.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a use state of a bathing assistance device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the bathing assistance device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the bathing assistance device shown in FIG.

4A is a perspective view showing a state in which an upper portion of a seat frame main body is attached to a nut member, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing a state in which a guide roller at a lower portion of the seat frame main body is engaged with a guide rail on a main frame side. FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a lower side of a main frame.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing an attachment structure of a suction cup attached to a leg portion of the main frame and a connection state of a suction releasing operation rod.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example in which two suction releasing operation rods are connected by a connection rod.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main frame 1a Main frame main body 1b Leg part 2 Elevating screw shaft 3 Seat frame 10 Suction cup 14 Electric motor 15 Nut member 16 Engagement shaft 16a Engagement groove 17 Guide rail 18 Guide frame tilting guide rail 19 Guide Roller 20 Bracket 21 Seat frame body 22 Chair part 27 Push button switch 28 Watertight cable 35 Seat belt 39 Suction release operation rod

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A bathing assist device comprising: a main frame removably mounted in a bathtub; a lifting screw shaft rotatably driven by an electric motor; and a seat frame moving up and down by rotation of the screw shaft. . 2. The seat frame is operated to move up and down by a watertight push button switch connected to a watertight cable extending from an electric motor installed at an upper end portion of the main frame to a position near the chair portion of the seat frame. The bathing assistance device according to claim 1, wherein 3. The main frame has a pair of guide rails extending vertically in a state in which the main frame is inclined slightly rearward with respect to the seat frame on both left and right sides of the elevating screw shaft. A guide roller is engaged with the two guide rails,
3. The bathing assist device according to claim 1, wherein an upper portion of the rear surface of the seat frame is attached to a nut member screwed onto the lifting screw shaft. 4. 4. The bathing assist device according to claim 3, wherein a pair of seat frame tilting guide rails having a larger inclination angle than the pair of guide rails are continuously provided below the pair of guide rails. 5. The bathing assistance device according to claim 1, wherein a seat belt is attached to the seat frame. 6. The main frame comprises a main frame main body and legs connected to the lower end of the main frame main body. At front, rear, left and right of the legs, suction cups which can be attached to the bottom surface of the bathtub are attached. The bathing assistance device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein 7. The bathing assistance device according to claim 6, wherein the suction releasing operation rod is connected across two suction cups facing front and rear or left and right.