Wheelchair suspension
OwnerRobert L. Cuson, Robert A. Bekoscke +1inventors
InventorsRobert L. Cuson, Robert A. Bekoscke, Daniel J. Stothard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Several embodiments of wheeled vehicles, such as wheelchairs, that are adapted to traverse obstacles are disclosed. The wheeled vehicles include a frame, drive wheels, front anti-tip wheels positioned in front of the drive wheels, and rear anti-tip wheels positioned behind the drive wheels. One exemplary vehicle includes front anti-tip wheels supported by rigid arms that are fixed to the frame and drive assemblies that are independently suspended from the frame. Another exemplary vehicle includes a linkage that links the front and rear anti-tip wheels, such that movement of one of the front anti-tip wheel or the rear anti-tip wheel relative to the frame causes movement of the other wheel relative to the frame.
Claims17
A wheelchair comprising:
- a frame;
- a drive assembly fixedly connected to the frame and forward of a vertical midpoint plane of the frame;
- a front anti-tip pivot arm pivotally connected to the frame at a first pivot connection;
- a rear anti-tip pivot arm pivotally connected to the frame at a second pivot connection;
- a link pivotally connected to the front and rear anti-tip pivot arms;
- a biasing member connected between the frame and at least one of the front and rear anti-tip pivot arms;
- wherein the front anti-tip pivot arm comprises an upward mount for pivotally connecting the link to the front anti-tip pivot arm;
- and
- wherein the rear anti-tip pivot arm comprises a forward portion that is forward of the second pivot connection and wherein the forward portion pivotally connects the link to the rear anti-tip pivot arm.
A wheelchair comprising:
- a frame;
- a drive assembly fixedly connected to the frame and forward of a vertical midpoint plane of the frame;
- a front anti-tip pivot arm pivotally connected to the frame at a first pivot connection;
- a rear anti-tip pivot arm pivotally connected to the frame at a second pivot connection;
- a link pivotally connected to the front and rear anti-tip pivot arms;
- a biasing member pivotally connected to the frame and at least one of the front and rear anti-tip pivot arms;
- wherein the front anti-tip pivot arm comprises an upward extension for pivotally connecting the link to the front anti-tip pivot arm;
- and
- wherein the rear anti-tip pivot arm comprises a forward extension that is forward of the second pivot connection and wherein the forward extension pivotally connects the link to the rear anti-tip pivot arm.
A wheelchair comprising:
- a frame means;
- a drive means fixedly connected to the frame means and forward of a vertical midpoint plane of the frame means;
- a front anti-tip pivot means pivotally connected to the frame means at a first pivot connection means;
- a rear anti-tip pivot means pivotally connected to the frame means at a second pivot connection means;
- a link means pivotally connected to the front and rear anti-tip pivot means;
- a biasing means pivotally connected to the frame means and at least one of the front and rear anti-tip pivot means;
- wherein the front anti-tip pivot means comprises an upward extension for pivotally connecting the link means to the front anti-tip pivot means;
- and
- wherein the rear anti-tip pivot means comprises a forward extension that is forward of the second pivot connection means and wherein the forward extension pivotally connects the link means to the rear anti-tip pivot means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.