Wheelchair suspension system
AssigneeSunrise Medical HHG Inc.
InventorsDarryl Pauls, Samuel Traxinger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wheelchair has a suspension system that includes a front caster housing mounted forward of a wheelchair frame by means of a front linkage. The front caster housing supports a front caster. A drive wheel pivot arm, on which a mid-wheel-drive drive wheel is mounted, is itself mounted for pivoting with respect to the frame. A flexible tension member is connected to both the drive wheel pivot arm and the front linkage. The mounting of the flexible tension member is configured so that rotation of the drive wheel pivot arm in a downward direction applies tension to the flexible tension member, causing the upper link to rotate upward, and thereby lifting the caster housing and the front caster.
Claims25
A wheelchair with a suspension system comprising:
- a front caster housing mounted forward of a wheelchair frame by means of a front linkage, the front caster housing supporting a front caster;
- a drive wheel pivot arm on which a mid-wheel-drive drive wheel is mounted, the drive wheel pivot arm being mounted for pivoting with respect to the frame;
- and
- a flexible tension member connected to both the drive wheel pivot arm and the front linkage, the mounting of the flexible tension member being configured so that rotation of the drive wheel pivot arm in a downward direction applies tension to the flexible tension member, causing the upper link to rotate upward, and thereby lifting the caster housing and the front caster.
A wheelchair with a suspension system comprising:
- a front caster housing mounted forward of a wheelchair frame by means of a front linkage, the front caster housing supporting a front caster;
- a drive wheel pivot arm on which a mid-wheel-drive drive wheel is mounted, the drive wheel pivot arm being mounted for pivoting with respect to the frame;
- and
- a tension link connected to both the drive wheel pivot arm and the front linkage, the mounting of the tension link being configured so that under normal operating conditions the tension link pulls the front linkage in a substantially downward direction, with the mounting of the tension link being configured so that rotation of the drive wheel pivot arm in a downward direction releases tension in the tension link, allowing the front linkage to more freely move upward.
A wheelchair having a frame and a drive wheel pivot arm on each side of the wheelchair, each drive wheel pivot arm being mounted for pivoting with respect to the frame, with a drive wheel mounted on each drive wheel pivot arm, and further having a torsion member that is connected to each of the drive wheel pivot arms, thereby causing the two drive wheel pivot arms to tend to pivot in unison.
A wheelchair having a frame and a drive wheel pivot arm on each side of the wheelchair, each drive wheel pivot arm being mounted for pivoting with respect to the frame, with a drive wheel mounted on each drive wheel pivot arm, and further having a torsion member comprised of a main cross leg and two end legs, each end leg being connected to a drive wheel pivot arm.
A wheelchair with a suspension system comprising:
- a drive wheel;
- a front caster housing in which a front caster wheel is mounted;
- and
- a front linkage supporting the front caster housing and connecting the front caster housing to the wheelchair frame, with the front linkage including upper and lower links connected at forward ends to the front caster housing, and connected at rearward ends to a pivot member that is pivotally mounted to the frame.
A wheelchair having a frame, with a wheelchair suspension system comprising:
- a drive wheel;
- a front caster housing in which a front caster wheel is mounted;
- and
- a front linkage supporting the front caster housing and connecting the front caster housing to the wheelchair frame, with the front linkage including upper and lower links connected at forward ends to a front mounting bar from which the front caster housing is mounted, with the frame, the front mounting bar, and the upper and lower caster links forming a 4-bar link, and with a spring positioned between the front caster housing and the front mounting bar so that the front caster can spring rearward upon impact of the front caster wheel with an object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.