Wheel assembly capable of lateral movement
First Claim
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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.
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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.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A wheel assembly capable of forward or reverse motion as well as lateral motion comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification