Wheelchair suspension

• US 10,265,229 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2017
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invacare Corporation
• Original Assignee: Invacare Corporation
• Inventors: Bekoscke, Robert, Jurkiewicz, Damon
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Toan C
• Application Number:
  US15/447,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20170172824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 180 651, 180907, 280124104
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/14 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/04 motor-driven A61G5/06 takes precedence; motor-operated rests A61G5/12; for vehicles with handlebars, equipped with three or more wheels B62K5/003, B62K5/023
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/043 Mid wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/045 Rear wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/06 with obstacle mounting facilities, e.g. for climbing stairs, kerbs or steps
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/10 Parts, details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1078 with shock absorbers or other suspension arrangements between wheels and frame
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1089 Anti-tip devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/207 the arms being essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 180/907 Motorized wheelchairs

Abstract

A suspension for a vehicle is provided. The suspension includes, for example, a frame, at least one drive assembly and at least one caster pivot arm. The at least one drive assembly and the at least one caster pivot arm are pivotally connected to the frame at a common pivot axis such that the drive assembly and the front caster pivot arm are pivotable relative to one another.

Claims

1. A wheelchair suspension comprising:

a frame;

a drive assembly pivot arm pivotally connected to the frame at a first pivot axis;

a drive assembly mounted to the drive assembly pivot arm;

at least one front caster pivot arm pivotally mounted to the frame at the first pivot axis, wherein the at least one front caster pivot arm is mounted to the frame independently of the drive assembly pivot arm;

a front caster coupled to the at least one front caster pivot arm;

wherein torque applied by the drive assembly urges the front caster upward with respect to a support surface.

2. The wheelchair suspension of claim 1 further comprising at least one rear caster coupled to the frame.

3. The wheelchair suspension of claim 1 wherein the at least one front caster pivot arm is coupled to the drive assembly pivot arm.

4. The wheelchair suspension of claim 3 wherein the drive assembly pivot arm and the at least one front caster pivot arm are coupled by a variable length motion transfer member.

5. The wheelchair suspension of claim 4 wherein the variable length motion transfer member has a maximum length and is compressible from the maximum length to a shorter length.

6. The wheelchair suspension of claim 5 wherein pulling of the variable length motion transfer member when the variable length motion transfer member is at the maximum length pulls the at least one front caster pivot arm to move the front caster away from the support surface.

7. The wheelchair suspension of claim 4 wherein the variable length motion transfer member is a shock absorber.

8. The wheelchair suspension of claim 3 wherein the drive assembly pivot arm and the at least one front caster pivot arm are coupled by a length of flexible material.

9. The wheelchair suspension of claim 4 wherein the variable length motion transfer member comprises a spring.

10. The wheelchair suspension of claim 1 wherein the at least one front caster pivot arm comprises a first front caster pivot link pivotally coupled to the frame at the first pivot axis and a second front caster pivot link pivotally coupled to the frame at a second pivot axis.

11. The wheelchair suspension of claim 10 wherein the second pivot axis is in front of the first pivot axis on the frame.

12. A wheelchair comprising:

a frame;

a seat supported by the frame;

a pair of suspension assemblies disposed on opposite sides of the frame, each suspension assembly comprising;

a drive assembly pivot arm pivotally connected to the frame at a first pivot axis;

a drive assembly mounted to the drive assembly pivot arm;

at least one caster pivot arm pivotally mounted to the frame at the first pivot axis and coupled to the drive assembly pivot arm;

a front caster coupled to the at least one front caster pivot arm;

wherein torque applied to the drive assembly urges the front caster upward with respect to a support surface.

13. The wheelchair of claim 12 further comprising at least one rear caster coupled to the frame.

14. The wheelchair of claim 12 wherein the drive assembly pivot arm and the at least one front caster pivot arm are coupled by a variable length motion transfer member.

15. The wheelchair of claim 14 wherein the variable length motion transfer member has a maximum length and is compressible from the maximum length to a shorter length.

16. The wheelchair of claim 15 wherein pulling of the variable length motion transfer member when the variable length motion transfer member is at the maximum length pulls the at least one front caster pivot arm to move the front caster away from the support surface.

17. The wheelchair of claim 14 wherein the variable length motion transfer member is a shock absorber.

18. The wheelchair of claim 12 wherein the drive assembly pivot arm and the at least one front caster pivot arm are coupled by a length of flexible material.

19. The wheelchair of claim 14 wherein the variable length motion transfer member comprises a spring.

20. The wheelchair of claim 14 wherein the at least one front caster pivot arm comprises a first front caster pivot link pivotally coupled to the frame at the first pivot axis and a second front caster pivot link pivotally coupled to the frame at a second pivot axis.

21. The wheelchair of claim 20 wherein the second pivot axis is in front of the first pivot axis on the frame.