Wheelchair suspension system

Abstract

A wheelchair suspension system comprises a suspension assembly disposed adjacent to each wheel of the wheelchair, and attached to and interconnecting the axle of the wheels to the wheelchair frame. Each of the suspension assemblies includes a front bracket and a rear bracket, wherein the front bracket is attached to the wheelchair frame and the rear bracket is attached to the axle. Top and bottom generally L-shaped arms each are pivotally attached to each of the brackets in a diametrically opposed fashion, and an elastomeric spring is disposed between and interconnects the arms. When one or more of the wheels encounters a bump in a travel surface of the wheelchair, the arms pivot about the brackets, remain parallel to each other, and move closer together to compress the spring which absorbs a significant amount of shock caused by the bump. Conversely, when one or more of the wheels encounters a depression, the arms again pivot about the brackets, remain parallel to each other, but move farther apart to place tension on the spring which again absorbs a significant amount of shock caused by the depression. The pivoting parallel arrangement of arms and brackets enables displacement of the axle in a substantially vertical, relatively large distance when one or more of the wheels encounters an irregularity in the wheelchair travel surface, which in turn maintains stability and steering control of the wheelchair by keeping the wheels in contact with the travel surface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.