TRACKED MOBILITY DEVICE
First Claim
1. A tracked mobility device, comprising:
- a) a frame supporting a seat assembly;
b) a pair of track drives connected to said frame, with each track drive comprising flexible track rotating around a set of wheels and/or rollers,wherein each set of wheels and/or rollers includes a powered rear drive wheel, an unpowered central weight-bearing wheel, and an unpowered front roller wheel;
wherein the powered rear drive wheel, unpowered central weight-bearing wheel, and unpowered front roller wheel of each track are fixed to said frame at a height effective to cause each track drive always to have a “
V”
-shaped lower surface when viewed from the side, with the “
V”
-shape being defined by a raised front end portion, a raised rear end portion, and a lowered central portion, and never to have a flat lower surface when viewed from the side;
wherein the rear end portion of each track contacts the rear surface of the powered rear drive wheel, the front end portion of each track contacts the front surface of the unpowered front roller wheel, and the lowered central portion of each track contacts only the lower surface of the central weight-bearing wheel, with the upper surface of the central weight-bearing wheel being free from contact with the track;
c) an independent rear wheel assembly connected to said frame and comprising a rear wheel positioned at a fixed and constant height with respect to said frame, wherein said fixed and constant height is effective to allow the rear wheel to cooperate with the lowered central portion of each of said track drives to provide a three-point contact with a flat surface; and
d) a controller effective for controlling the speed and direction of rotation of each of the track drives.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tracked mobility device includes a frame, a pair of track drives connected to the frame, and a rear wheel assembly that is independent of the track drives. Each track drive has a flexible track rotating around a set of wheels, with each set of wheels including a rear powered wheel, a central weight-bearing wheel, and a front roller wheel. The wheels are fixed to the frame at a height effective to cause the track drive always to have a “V”-shaped lower surface when viewed from the side. The independent rear wheel is at a fixed and constant height with respect to the frame, with the fixed and constant height being effective to allow the rear wheel to cooperate with the lowered central portion of each of said track drives to provide a three-point contact with a flat surface.
-
Citations
9 Claims
-
1. A tracked mobility device, comprising:
-
a) a frame supporting a seat assembly; b) a pair of track drives connected to said frame, with each track drive comprising flexible track rotating around a set of wheels and/or rollers, wherein each set of wheels and/or rollers includes a powered rear drive wheel, an unpowered central weight-bearing wheel, and an unpowered front roller wheel; wherein the powered rear drive wheel, unpowered central weight-bearing wheel, and unpowered front roller wheel of each track are fixed to said frame at a height effective to cause each track drive always to have a “
V”
-shaped lower surface when viewed from the side, with the “
V”
-shape being defined by a raised front end portion, a raised rear end portion, and a lowered central portion, and never to have a flat lower surface when viewed from the side;wherein the rear end portion of each track contacts the rear surface of the powered rear drive wheel, the front end portion of each track contacts the front surface of the unpowered front roller wheel, and the lowered central portion of each track contacts only the lower surface of the central weight-bearing wheel, with the upper surface of the central weight-bearing wheel being free from contact with the track; c) an independent rear wheel assembly connected to said frame and comprising a rear wheel positioned at a fixed and constant height with respect to said frame, wherein said fixed and constant height is effective to allow the rear wheel to cooperate with the lowered central portion of each of said track drives to provide a three-point contact with a flat surface; and d) a controller effective for controlling the speed and direction of rotation of each of the track drives. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
Specification