Support mechanism and support device

Abstract

A support mechanism supports a user taking a nap or resting in an upright position. The first support member supports the human body from below by contacting the knee and lower leg; the second support member supports the human body from below by contacting one of buttocks and upper legs; the third support member that contacts one of upper limbs and head of the human body and supports the human body from at least one of the front and rear directions; the fourth support member supports the human body from below by contacting the sole so that the human body's foot is in an inclined posture with respect to the up and down directions; and a moving mechanism moves one or two of the first support member, the second support member, and the fourth support member relative to the other one in the up and down directions.

1 . A support mechanism that supports a user taking a nap or resting in an upright position, the support mechanism comprising:
 a first support member that has a slope facing upward in the up and down directions and supports a human body from below by contacting one or both of knees and lower legs of the human body from the front side of the human body;   a second support member that is disposed at a different position from the first support member when viewed from the up and down directions and supports the human body from below by contacting one or both of buttocks and upper legs of the human body from the back side of the human body;   a third support member that is disposed at a position above the first support member and the second support member, contacts one or both of upper limbs and head of the human body so that the upper limbs and head are placed within a defined range in the front and back directions, and supports the human body from at least one of the front and back directions;   a fourth support member that is arranged at a position lower than the first support member and the second support member and closer to the second support member than the first support member in the front and back directions when viewed from the up and down directions, and that contacts soles of the human body so that the legs are in a tilted posture with respect to the up and down directions and supports the human body from below; and,   a movement mechanism moves one or two of the first support member, the second support member, and the fourth support member relative to the other one in the up and down directions.   
     
     
         2 . A support device, comprising:
 a support mechanism that supports a user taking a nap or resting in an upright position, the support mechanism comprising:   a first support member that has a slope facing upward in the up and down directions and supports a human body below by contacting one or both of knees and lower legs of the human body from the front side of the human body;   a second support member that is disposed at a different position from the first support member when viewed from the up and down directions and supports the human body from below by contacting one or both of buttocks and upper legs of the human body from the back side of the human body;   a third support member that is disposed at a position above the first support member and the second support member, contacts one or both of upper limbs and head of the human body so that the upper limbs and head are placed within a defined range in the front and back directions, and supports the human body from at least one of the front and back directions;   a fourth support member that is arranged at a position lower than the first support member and the second support member and closer to the second support member than the first support member in the front and back directions when viewed from the up and down directions, and that contacts soles of the human body so that the legs are in a tilted posture with respect to the up and down directions and supports the human body from below;   a movement mechanism moves one or two of the first support member, the second support member, and the fourth support member relative to the other one in the up and down directions; and.   a controller that controls the movement mechanism.   
     
     
         3 . The support device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the controller controls the moving mechanism so that the second support member moves relative to the first support member and the fourth support member in the up and directions.   
     
     
         4 . The support device according to  claim 3 , further comprising
 a plurality of sensors that are attached to each of the first support member, the second support member, and the fourth support member and measure loads or pressures received from the human body in contact with the plurality of sensors, and are communicably connected to the controller, wherein   wherein the controller controls the movement mechanism so that the ratio of each measurement value of the plurality of sensors is within a predetermined ratio range.   
     
     
         5 . The support device according to  claim 3 , further comprising
 a user interface that is communicably connected to the controller and transmits requests from the user to the controller, wherein   the controller controls the movement mechanism so that the ratio of each measurement value of the plurality of sensors falls within the predetermined ratio range, when the controller receives a request to start using from the user via the user interface.   
     
     
         6 . The support device according to  claim 5 , wherein
 when usage time is transmitted from the user via the user interface and the usage time has elapsed, the controller controls the moving mechanism so that a ratio of the measured values of the plurality of sensors that is within the predetermined ratio range is outside the predetermined ratio range.   
     
     
         7 . The support device according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the controller controls the moving mechanism during a period from when the usage time is transmitted from the user via the user interface until the usage time has elapsed so that the ratio of each measurement value of the plurality of sensors varies within the predetermined ratio range.   
     
     
         8 . The support device according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the second support member has a seat that contacts one or both of buttocks and upper legs of the human body, and a link mechanism that connects the seat and the moving mechanism,   as the seat is moved upward by the moving mechanism, posture of the seat is changed so that the angle formed by a link included in the link mechanism along the up and down directions becomes wider.   
     
     
         9 . The support device according to  claim 8 , further comprising
 a housing surrounding the support mechanism, the housing having a door through which a user can enter and exit.