Wheeled conveyance

• US 20060151982A1
• Filed: 06/03/2003
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher James Mills
• Original Assignee: Christopher James Mills
• Inventors: Mills, Christopher James
• Granted Patent: US 7,484,746 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/755
• 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 5/1078 with shock absorbers or other suspension arrangements between wheels and frame
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 180/907 Motorized wheelchairs

Abstract

A wheeled conveyance comprising a chassis (4), support means for a load mounted on the chassis (4), a suspension assembly mounted on the chassis (4), and at least one shock absorber means (38) acting on at least part of the suspension assembly and adapted and arranged to limit tilting of the chassis (4) relative to at least part of the suspension assembly under dynamic load conditions tending to produce such tilting. The suspension assembly comprises spring means (32) and suspension arms pivotably mounted on the chassis (4) and extending in forward and rearward directions in the region of opposite sides of the chassis (4). Each suspension arm has a wheel (16, 26) rotatably mounted at the free end.

Claims

1. A wheeled conveyance (2) comprising:

a chassis (4);

support means for a load mounted on the chassis (4);

a suspension assembly mounted on the chassis (4) and comprising suspension arms (8, 20) pivotably mounted on the chassis (4) and extending in forward and rearward directions in the region of opposite sides of the chassis (4), each suspension arm having a wheel (16, 26) rotatably mounted at the free end (18, 28) thereof, and two separate spring means (32), one disposed in the region of each side of the chassis (4), the free ends (18, 28) of the forwardly and rearwardly extending suspension arms (8, 20) being arranged to tend to pivot towards each other by means of the two separate spring means (32) being provided between, and acting on, the forwardly and rearwardly extending suspension arms (8, 20); and

two shock absorber means (38) separately cooperating between the chassis (4) and each of the suspension arms (8, 20) extending in the forward direction, wherein the two shock absorber means (38) are provided in a substantially horizontal plane so as to limit and dampen tilting of the chassis (4) relative to at least part of the suspension assembly under dynamic load conditions tending to produce such tilting whilst upward and downward movement of the wheels (16, 26) with the suspension arms (8, 20) is substantially uninhibited thereby in the absence of tilting motion of the chassis (4).

2. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheels (16, 26) mounted at the free ends (18, 28) of one of the forwardly extending and rearwardly extending suspension arms (8, 20) are provided with swivel means arranged such that the wheels (16, 26) are adapted to swivel independently of one another.

3. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheels (16, 26) mounted at the free ends (18, 28) of one of the forwardly extending and rearwardly extending suspension arms (8, 20) are provided with swivel means arranged such that the wheels (16, 26) are adapted to swivel about a generally upright axis.

4. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wheels (16, 26) provided with swivel means are further provided with limiting means permitting swivelling through a predetermined limited range.

5. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheeled conveyance is non-powered.

6. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheeled conveyance is self-propelled.

7. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 6, wherein the self-propelled wheeled conveyance comprises a motorised wheelchair, having a support means comprising a seat (6).

8. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 6, wherein the wheels (16) mounted at the free ends (28) of the suspension arms (20) extending in the rearward direction are each motor-driven and the wheels (26) mounted at the free ends (18) of the suspension arms (8) extending in the forward direction are provided with swivel means adapted to allow the wheels (26) to swivel.

9. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 6, wherein the wheels (26) mounted at the free ends (18) of the suspension arms (8) extending in the forward direction are each motor-driven and the wheels (16) mounted at the free ends (28) of the suspension arms (20) extending in the rearward direction are provided with swivel means adapted to allow the wheels (16) to swivel.

10. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 8, wherein the motor-driven wheels are powered by separate motors (30).

11. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 10, wherein the separate motors are electric motors (30).

12. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 11, wherein the electric motors (30) are powered by at least one battery.

13. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 12, wherein the at least one battery is mounted on the chassis (4).

14. A wheeled conveyance as claimed claim 8, wherein a manually-operated controller is provided for controlling the motors (30) whereby motion and steering of the conveyance is controlled.

15. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 14, wherein the manually-operated controller is a joystick.

17. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two shock absorber means (38) are provided with adjustment means to effect a desired extent of limitation of the tilting of the chassis (4).

18. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two shock absorber means (38) are provided with adjustment means adapted to substantially minimise tilting of the chassis (4).

22. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the two shock absorber means (38) are of elongate telescopic form, having one end (40) thereof pivotably secured to the chassis (4) and an opposite end (44) thereof pivotably secured to the associated forwardly extending suspension arm (8).

23. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the two shock absorber means (38) are of elongate telescopic form, having one end (40) thereof pivotably secured to the chassis (4) and an opposite end (44) thereof pivotably secured to a strut (46) extending upwardly from the associated forwardly extending suspension arm (8).

24. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 22, wherein the pivotably secured ends (4044) of each of the shock absorber means of elongate telescopic form are adapted to pivot during corresponding pivoting of its associated forwardly extending suspension arm (8).

26. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two shock absorber means (38) are adapted to operate simultaneously and collectively to limit the forward tilting of the chassis (4), with each shock absorber means acting independently on its associated forwardly extending suspension arm (8).

33. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 9, wherein the motor-driven wheels are powered by separate motors (30).

34. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 33, wherein the separate motors are electric motors (30).

35. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 34, wherein the electric motors (30) are powered by at least one battery.

36. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 35, wherein the at least one battery is mounted on the chassis (4).

37. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 9, wherein a manually-operated controller is provided for controlling the motors (30) whereby motion and steering of the conveyance is controlled.

38. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 37, wherein the manually-operated controller is a joystick.

39. A wheeled conveyance as claimed in claim 23, wherein the pivotably secured ends (40, 44) of each of the shock absorber means of elongate telescopic form are adapted to pivot during corresponding pivoting of its associated forwardly extending suspension arm (8).

16. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

31. (canceled)

32. (canceled)