Wheelchair suspension
First Claim
1. A wheelchair suspension comprising:
- a frame member;
a pivoting assembly having;
a first linkage pivotally coupled to the frame member; and
a second linkage pivotally coupled to the frame member;
a drive assembly coupled to the first linkage;
at least one rear caster; and
at least one front caster assembly coupled to the first and second linkages wherein upward pivotal movement of the first linkage causes the caster assembly to undergo upward vertical movement and upward pivotal movement of the second linkage causes the caster assembly to undergo lateral movement toward the drive assembly.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wheelchair suspension having plurality of pivoting linkages to lift and retract a front castor assembly to facilitate traversing an obstacle or rough terrain. In this regard, a wheelchair suspension having a frame member and at least one a pivoting assembly is provided. The pivoting assembly has, for example, a first linkage pivotally coupled to the frame member and a second linkage pivotally coupled to the frame member. At least one front caster assembly is coupled to the first and second linkages wherein upward pivotal movement of the first linkage causes the caster assembly to undergo upward vertical movement and upward pivotal movement of the second linkage causes the caster assembly to undergo lateral movement inward toward the wheelchair.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A wheelchair suspension comprising:
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a frame member;
a pivoting assembly having;
a first linkage pivotally coupled to the frame member; and
a second linkage pivotally coupled to the frame member;
a drive assembly coupled to the first linkage;
at least one rear caster; and
at least one front caster assembly coupled to the first and second linkages wherein upward pivotal movement of the first linkage causes the caster assembly to undergo upward vertical movement and upward pivotal movement of the second linkage causes the caster assembly to undergo lateral movement toward the drive assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A wheelchair suspension comprising:
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a frame member having first and second sides;
a first pivoting assembly coupled to the first side;
a second pivoting assembly coupled to the second side;
at least one front caster assembly coupled to each of the first and second pivoting assemblies;
first and second drive assemblies respectively coupled to the first and second pivoting assemblies wherein each of the first and second drive assemblies is configured to respectively pivot first and second pivoting assemblies so that the at least one front caster assembly coupled to the first and second pivoting assemblies undergoes vertical movement and lateral movement towards the respective first and second drive assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A suspension comprising:
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a main frame;
first and second side frame assemblies, each side frame assembly comprising;
interfaces for releasably attaching the side frame assembly to the main frame;
a pivoting assembly having;
a first link pivotally coupled to the frame member; and
a second link pivotally coupled to the frame member;
a drive assembly coupled to the first link;
at least one rear caster; and
at least one front caster assembly coupled to the first and second links wherein upward pivotal movement of the first link causes the caster assembly to undergo upward vertical movement and upward pivotal movement of the second link causes the caster assembly to undergo lateral movement toward the drive assembly. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A wheelchair suspension defining a forward direction and a rearward direction of the wheelchair, the suspension comprising
a frame, at least one main drive wheel for engaging the ground, at least one front caster for engaging the ground forward of the main drive wheel, and a pivoting assembly mounting the front caster to the frame so that the front caster can move upwardly and rearwardly when encountering an object, the pivoting assembly comprising an upper link and a lower link, the upper link being pivotally mounted to the front caster and to the frame at respective upper pivot axes, the lower link being pivotally mounted to the front caster and to the frame at respective lower pivot axes, the distance between the upper pivot axes being different than the distance between the lower pivot axes, and one of the upper or lower links comprising a drive wheel mount.
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31. A wheelchair suspension defining a forward direction and a rearward direction of the wheelchair, the suspension comprising
a frame, at least one main drive wheel for engaging the ground, at least one front caster for engaging the ground forward of the main drive wheel, the front caster being biased to normally remain in contact with the ground, a pivoting assembly mounting the front caster and at least one main drive wheel to the frame so the front caster can move upwardly and rearwardly when encountering an object, and a motor for driving the main drive wheel, the torque created at the drive wheel by the motor during rapid acceleration of wheelchair being sufficient to overcome the bias on the front caster whereby the front caster moves upwardly and rearwardly in response to rapid acceleration of the wheelchair.
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36. A wheelchair suspension comprising:
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a frame, and a pivoting assembly comprising a first linkage means linking at least one front caster to the frame via first and second upper pivoting means, a second linkage means linking the at least one front caster to the frame via first and second lower pivoting means, and the first and second upper pivoting means separated from each other by a first distance and the first and second lower pivoting means separated from each other by a second distance, the first and second distances being different from each other, and one of the first or second linkage means further configured to mount a drive wheel to the frame;
further comprising a drive wheel means coupled to the first linkage means;
further comprising a drive means for generating torque at the drive wheel means during rapid acceleration, said torque generating a moment arm sufficient to overcome to cause the front caster to move upwardly and rearwardly toward the drive wheel means.
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37. A wheelchair suspension comprising:
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a frame, and a pivoting assembly comprising a first linkage means linking at least one front caster to the frame via first and second upper pivoting means, a second linkage means linking the at least one front caster to the frame via first and second lower pivoting means, and the first and second upper pivoting means separated from each other by a first distance and the first and second lower pivoting means separated from each other by a second distance, the first and second distances being different from each other, and one of the first or second linkage means further configured to mount a drive wheel to the frame;
further comprising at least one motor means for driving the drive wheel;
further comprising an electronic controller means for controlling the at least one motor means;
wherein the at least one motor means is configured to generate a torque in response to a rapid acceleration signal from the electronic controller means that causes the at least one front caster to move vertically and toward the drive wheel so as to drive the wheelchair over obstacles or rough terrain.
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Specification