Wheel assembly capable of lateral movement

• US 7,552,977 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lamprich Medical, LLC
• Original Assignee: Lamprich Medical, LLC
• Inventors: Lamprich, Bradley Keith, Lamprich, Lonnie Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Stormer; Russell D
• Application Number:
  US11/881,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20080007108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 301/5.1, 301/5.23, 301/5.7, 16/35.R, 16/45, 16/47, 188/2.F, 188/19, 188/20, 188/68, 188/69, 280/250.1
• US Class Current: 301/5.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/02 propelled by the patient or disabled person
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/10 Parts, details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1008 for gradually slowing down the wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1018 on the running surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1024 Brake discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1035 manipulated by wheelchair user
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 19/003 Multidirectional wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2310/302 by welding
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2380/12 Ball bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/84 Wheelchairs

Abstract

A wheel assembly having multiple small rotatable wheels mounted laterally thereon whereby lateral movement as well as forward and backward movement is provided. A pair of the wheel assemblies are utilized on a hand-propelled wheelchair that can be moved laterally as well as in the standard forward-reverse motion. The wheelchair comprises a frame, one or more axles, a pair of main wheels rotatable on the one or more axles, and a plurality of small rotatable outer wheels positioned laterally on the main wheels.

Claims

1. A wheel assembly capable of forward or reverse motion as well as lateral motion comprising:

a first wheel assembly comprising a main wheel, a hub and at least one spoke joining said hub to said main wheel, said first wheel assembly rotatable on an axle;

a plurality of small rotatable outer wheels positioned laterally on the main wheel, wherein said main wheel functions as the axle for said small rotatable outer wheels; and

,

a lateral braking system carried by said wheel, said lateral braking system movable from a position contacting said small rotatable outer wheels thereby precluding rotation of said small rotatable outer wheels to a position permitting rotation of said small rotatable outer wheels.

2. The wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein the wheel is rotatable in a first plane on the axle and each small rotatable outer wheel is rotatable on the wheel in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane.

3. The wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein each small rotatable outer wheel comprises an inner race, ball bearings, an outer race, and a tire mounted on the outer race, wherein said inner race is positioned on said main wheel.

4. The wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein each small rotatable outer wheel comprises a hub having side cone bearings and sides and an outer circumference on which a tire is disposed, wherein said sides are secured to said main wheel.

5. The wheel assembly of claim 1 which further comprises a plurality of spokes between which the small rotatable outer wheels are positioned and wherein a majority of said small rotatable wheels are positioned adjacent to one another.

6. The wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein the small rotatable outer wheels have outer surfaces shaped to maximize the circularity of the main wheel.

7. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein said lateral braking assembly comprises a disk movable from a first position contacting said small rotatable wheels to a second position out of contact with said small rotatable wheels.

8. A method of laterally moving a wheel supported device across a floor, the wheel supported device comprising wheel assemblies capable of forward-reverse motion as well as lateral motion, the wheel assemblies including main wheels mounted rotatably on one or more axles and a plurality of small rotatable outer wheels positioned on the main wheels, wherein each main wheel functions as the axle for said small rotatable outer wheels and a brake carried by at least one main wheel for preventing the rotation of the small rotatable outer wheels, the method comprising the steps of:

releasing said brake, thereby permitting rotation of said small rotatable outer wheels;

exerting a lateral force against a proximate object thereby causing said small rotatable outer wheels in contact with said floor to rotate on said main wheels; and

moving the wheelchair laterally.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of releasing said brake further comprises moving said brake from a first position contacting said small rotatable wheels to a second position out of contact with said small rotatable wheels.

10. A method of laterally moving a hand-propelled wheelchair across a floor, the wheel chair comprising wheel assemblies capable of forward-reverse motion as well as lateral motion, the wheel assemblies including main wheels mounted rotatably on one or more axles and a plurality of small rotatable outer wheels positioned on the main wheels, wherein each main wheel functions as the axle for said small rotatable outer wheels and a brake carried by at least one main wheel for preventing the rotation of the small rotataNe outer wheels, the method comprising the steps of:

releasing said brake, thereby permitting rotation of said small rotatable outer wheels;

exerting a lateral force against a proximate object thereby causing said small rotatable outer wheels in contact with said floor to rotate on said main wheels; and

moving the wheelchair laterally.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of releasing said brake further comprises moving said brake from a first position contacting said small rotatable wheels to a second position out of contact with said small rotatable wheels.