PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lightweight and inexpensive walking aid.SOLUTION: A walking aid 10 comprises a support member 20 attached to a lower extremity, a detection member 50 which is movably stored in the support member 20, and an elastic member 51 for energizing the detection member 50 in an axial direction. The support member 20 comprises a joint part 32 corresponding to a knee, and the joint part 32 has a lock/unlock mechanism 60. The lock/unlock mechanism 60 is mechanically operated by the detection member 50, and when the detection member 50 is protruded downward from the support member 20, the knee is made to be rotatable, and when the detection member 50 is retreated to the support member 20, the knee is made to be non-rotatable.EFFECT: As an effect, the lock/unlock mechanism is mechanically made to be in a lock state or an unlock state by the detection member, so that an electric sensor is not needed. A motor and a battery or a hydraulic mechanism are not needed, so that the walking aid can be made to be lightweight and inexpensive.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2COPYRIGHT: (C)2019,JPO&INPIT【課題】軽くて安価な歩行補助具を提供する。【解決手段】歩行補助具10は、下肢に取付けられる支持部材20と、この支持部材20に移動自在に収納される検知部材50と、この検知部材50を軸方向に付勢する弾性部材51とを備える。支持部材20は、膝に対応する関節部32を有し、この関節部32に、ロック・アンロック機構60を備えている。このロック・アンロック機構60は、検知部材50で機械的に操作され、検知部材50が支持部材20から下へ突出しているときには膝を回転可能にし、検知部材50が支持部材20に没したときには膝を回転不能にする。【効果】ロック・アンロック機構は、検知部材で機械的にロック状態又はアンロック状態とされるため、電気的なセンサが不要である。モータ及びバッテリ又は油圧機構が不要であるため、軽くて、安価な歩行補助具が提供される。【選択図】図2
