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US 11,213,441 B2Granted
Suspension for wheeled vehicles
AssigneeInvacare Corporation
InventorsGerold Goertzen, William A. Null, Robert L. Cuson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wheelchair suspension comprises a frame, at least one pivot arm, at least one front caster, at least one rear caster, a stabilizing system, and a sensor. The pivot arm is coupled to the frame. The front caster is coupled to the pivot arm. The rear caster is coupled to the frame. The stabilizing system is coupled to the frame and the pivot arm. The sensor is arranged such that tipping of the frame causes actuation of the stabilizing system to at least partially resist further movement of the frame.
Claims20
A wheelchair, comprising:
- a frame;
- a seat supported by the frame;
- a pair of drive wheels supporting the frame;
- a front caster assembly pivotally connected to the frame, the front caster assembly comprising a front caster pivot arm and a front caster;
- a rear caster assembly pivotally connected to the frame, the rear caster assembly comprising a rear caster pivot arm and a rear caster;
- a stabilizing system coupled to the frame and the front caster pivot arm, the stabilizing system comprising a piston valve assembly having a valve that is movable between an open state and a closed state, wherein the piston valve assembly is in a locked position when in the closed state and an unlocked position when in the open state;
- a sensor coupled to the stabilizing system;
- wherein the sensor is arranged such that movement of the frame relative to the rear caster causes actuation of the piston valve assembly to cause the valve to move to the closed state to lock the piston valve assembly and thereby at least partially restrict movement of the front caster relative to the frame.
5 more elements
A wheelchair, comprising:
- a frame;
- a seat supported by the frame;
- a pair of drive wheels supporting the frame;
- a front caster assembly pivotally connected to the frame, the front caster assembly comprising a front caster pivot arm and a front caster;
- a rear caster assembly pivotally connected to the frame, the rear caster assembly comprising a rear caster pivot arm and a rear caster;
- a stabilizing system coupled to the frame and the front caster pivot arm, the stabilizing system comprising a lockable spring that is movable between an unlocked state and a locked state;
- a sensor coupled to the stabilizing system;
- wherein the sensor is arranged such that movement of the frame relative to the rear caster causes the lockable spring to move to the locked state and thereby at least partially restrict movement of the front caster relative to the frame.
5 more elements
A wheelchair, comprising:
- a frame;
- a seat supported by the frame;
- a pair of drive wheels supporting the frame;
- a front caster assembly pivotally connected to the frame, the front caster assembly comprising a front caster pivot arm and a front caster;
- a rear caster assembly pivotally connected to the frame, the rear caster assembly comprising a rear caster pivot arm and a rear caster;
- a sensing means for sensing movement of the frame relative to the rear caster;
- and
- a locking means for at least partially restricting movement of the front caster relative to the frame when the sensing means senses movement of the frame relative to the rear caster.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.