Mobile support

• US 4,375,840 A
• Filed: 09/23/1981
• Issued: 03/08/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jack L. Campbell
• Original Assignee: Jack L. Campbell
• Inventors: Campbell, Jack L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hill, M. J.
• Application Number:
  US06/305,027
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 180/6.5, 180/6.48, 180/6.2, 180/6.24, 180/6.26, 180/6.28, 180/6.3, 180/6.32, 180/6.34, 180/6.36, 180/6.38, 180/6.4, 180/6.5, 180/6.54, 180/6.58, 180/6.6 , 180/6.62, 180/6.64, 180/6.66, 180/7 R, 180/8 A, 180/65 F, 180/65 R, 180/209, 180/216, 180/242, 180/315, 180/DIG. 3, 180/9.24 R, 280/5.3, 280/47.38, 280/211, 280/29, 280/242 WC, 280/289 WC, 280/417, 280/DIG. 10, 280/650, 297/66, 297/71, 297/330, 297/347, 297/352, 297/466, 297/DIG. 4, 297/DIG. 10, 301/5 P, 296/65 R, 5/81 R, 5/86
• US Class Current: 180/6.5
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/34 sitting
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/042 Front wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/045 Rear wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1051 Arrangements for steering
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1059 adjusting the height of the seat
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/107 positioning the whole seat forward or rearward
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1072 rotating the whole seat around a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1017 Pivoting arms, e.g. crane type mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1076 Means for rotating around a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/24 Personal mobility vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/34 Wheel chairs
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/00 Motor vehicles or trailers, characterised by the arrangement or number of wheels, not otherwise provided for, e.g. four wheels in diamond pattern
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 180/907 Motorized wheelchairs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/04 Wheelchair

Abstract

A base frame is provided defining two pairs of opposite marginal portions with the pairs of marginal portions spaced horizontally apart in vertical planes intersecting each other and the marginal portions of each pair spaced on opposite sides of the point of intersection of the planes. A first pair of omnidirectional support structures are mounted from a first pair of the marginal portions and a second pair of reversely and variably drivable support structures are steerably mounted from the second pair of marginal portions for angular displacement about upstanding axes relative to the second pair of marginal portions. Further, steering control structure is operably connected between the frame and the second pair of support structures operable to selectively, variably and equally angularly displace the second pair of support structures relative to the second marginal portions. A pair of extendible uprights are mounted at their lower ends from the frame for equal angular displacement about a first horizontal axis extending therebetween and equal angular displacement about horizontal axes generally normal to the first axis. A brace is pivotally connected between the upper extendible ends of the uprights and includes a sleeve thereon oscillatable about its longitudinal axis and a support arm projects outwardly from the sleeve and is longitudinally extendible. The outer extendible end of the arm supports an operator mount therefrom for adjustable angular displacement about a horizontal axis transverse to the support arm.

Claims

1. A mobile support including a base frame defining two pairs of opposite marginal portions with said pairs of marginal portions spaced horizontally apart in vertical planes intersecting each other and with each pair of marginal portions spaced on opposite sides of the point of intersection of said planes, a first pair of omnidirectional ground engageable support means mounted from a first pair of said marginal portions and a second pair of reversely and variably drivable ground engageable support means steerably mounted from the second pair of marginal portions for angular displacement about upstanding axes relative to the second pair of marginal portions, and steering control means operably connected between said frame and said second pair of support means for selectively variably and equally angularly displacing said second pair of support means relative to said second marginal portions.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said first pair of omnidirectional support means comprise caster wheel assemblies.

3. The support of claim 1 wherein said second pair of support means include wheels journaled therefrom for rotation about generally horizontal axes and means for selectively, reversely and variably driving said wheels.

4. The support of claim 3 wherein said first pair of omnidirectional support means comprise caster wheel assemblies.

5. The structure of claim 1 including a support portion mounted on said frame for oscillation about a horizontal axis, a pair of upstanding extendible and retractable cylinders pivotally attached at their lower ends to said support portions at points spaced along the axis of oscillation thereof and for oscillation of said cylinders relative to said support portion about parallel axes disposed generally normal to the axis of oscillation of said support portion, an upper generally horizontal support member extending between and having its opposite ends interconnected between the upper ends of said cylinders for oscillation relative thereto about axes paralleling the first mentioned axes, a sleeve mounted on said support member for oscillation about an axis extending longitudinally of said support member, and a support arm having base and free ends, said base end of said support arm being supported from said sleeve for oscillation therewith, the free end of said support arm including means for supporting a load therefrom, means interconnected between said sleeve and one of said cylinders for oscillating said sleeve relative to said support member, means connected between said support portion and one of said cylinders for oscillating the latter relative to said support portion, and means operatively connected between said frame and said support portion for oscillating the latter relative to said frame.

6. The support of claim 5 wherein said support arm is longitudinally extendible.

7. The support of claim 6 wherein said means for supporting a load is oscillatably supported from the free extendible end of said support arm for angular displacement about an axis transverse to said support arm and paralleling the axis of oscillation of said sleeve.

8. The support of claim 7 wherein the base end of said support arm is pivotally supported from said sleeve for oscillation relative thereto about an axis disposed generally normal to the axis of oscillation of said sleeve, and means operatively connected between said sleeve and said support arm for effecting oscillation of said support arm relative to said sleeve.

9. A mobile support including a base frame having ground engageable support means for moving said frame over a support surface, said frame including a support portion mounted on said frame for oscillation about a horizontal axis, a pair of upstanding extendible and retractable cylinders pivotally attached at their lower ends to said support portion at points spaced along the axis of oscillation thereof and for oscillation of said cylinders relative to said support portion about parallel axes disposed generally normal to the axis of oscillation of said support portion, an upper generally horizontal support member extending between and having its opposite ends interconnected to the upper ends of said cylinders for oscillation relative thereto about axes paralleling the first mentioned axes, a sleeve mounted on said support member for oscillation about an axis extending longitudinally of said support member, and a support arm having base and free ends, said base end of said support arm being supported from said sleeve for oscillation therewith, the free end of said support arm including means for supporting a load therefrom, means interconnected between said sleeve and one of said cylinders for oscillating said sleeve relative to said support member, means connected between said support portion and one of said cylinders for oscillating the latter relative to said support portion, and means operatively connected between said frame and said support portion for oscillating the latter relative to said frame.

10. The support of claim 9 wherein said support arm is longitudinally extendible.

11. The support of claim 10 wherein said means for supporting a load is oscillatably supported from the free extendible end of said support arm for angular displacement about an axis transverse to said support arm and paralleling the axis of oscillation of said sleeve.

12. The support of claim 11 wherein the base end of said support arm is pivotally supported from said sleeve for oscillation relative thereto about an axis disposed generally normal to the axis of oscillation of said sleeve, and means operatively connected between said sleeve and said support arm for effecting oscillation of said support arm relative to said sleeve.

13. A mobile support including a base frame defining first and second horizontally spaced apart mounting portions and a third mounting portion horizontally spaced from each of said first and second mounting portions in a vertical plane containing said first and second mounting portions, first omnidirectional ground engageable support means mounted from said third mounting portion and a pair of reversely and variably drivable ground engageable support means steerably mounted from said first and second mounting portions for angular displacement about upstanding axes relative to said first and second mounting portions, and steering control means operably connected between said frame and said pair of ground engageable support means for selectively variably and equally angularly displacing said pair of ground engageable support means relative to said first and second mounting portions.