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US 7,293,801 B2Granted
Self-stabilizing suspension for wheeled vehicles
AssigneeInvacare Corporation
InventorsJohn E. Bertrand, Gerald Goertzen, William A. Null, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A suspension for a vehicle is provided. The suspension includes, for example, a frame and a releasable locking assembly. The releasable locking assembly has, for example, a first assembly movably coupled to the frame, a second assembly movably coupled to the frame, and wherein movement of the frame relative to the first and second assemblies causes the first and second assemblies to engage each other to limit further movement of the frame in at least a first direction.
Claims21
A suspension for a wheeled vehicle, comprising:
- a frame;
- a first assembly movably connected to the frame;
- a first locking member movably connected to the first assembly;
- a second assembly movably connected to the frame;
- and
- a second locking member connected to the second assembly;
- and
- wherein movement of the frame relative to at least one of the first and second assemblies causes the first and second locking members to engage one another to permit the first and second assemblies to cooperate to limit further movement of the frame in at least one direction;
- and
- wherein the first locking member automatically aligns with the second locking member as the locking members engage one another.
7 more elements
A suspension for a wheeled vehicle, comprising:
- (a) a frame having a left side and a right side;
- (b) a left side suspension, comprising:
- a left front pivot arm pivotally connected to the left side of the frame;
- a left front locking member connected to the left front pivot arm;
- a left rear pivot arm pivotally connected to the left side of the frame;
- and
- a left rear locking member connected to the left rear pivot arm;
- and
- wherein movement of the frame relative to at least one of the left front and left rear pivot arms causes the left front locking member and the left rear locking member to engage one another to permit the left front and left rear pivot arms to cooperate to limit further movement of the frame in at least one direction;
- and
- wherein at least one of the left front locking member and the left rear locking member is a left movable locking member that is movably connected to a respective pivot arm permitting automatically alignment between the left front locking member and the left rear locking member as the left front locking member and the left rear locking member engage one another;
- and
- (c) a right side suspension, comprising:
- a right front pivot arm pivotally connected to the right side of the frame;
- a right front locking member connected to the right front pivot arm;
- a right rear pivot arm pivotally connected to the right side of the frame;
- and
- a right rear locking member connected to the right rear pivot arm;
- and
- wherein movement of the frame relative to at least one of the right front and right rear pivot arms causes the right front locking member and the right rear locking member to engage one another to permit the right front and right rear pivot arms to cooperate to limit further movement of the frame in at least one direction;
- and
- wherein at least one of the right front locking member and the right rear locking member is a right movable locking member that is movably connected to a respective pivot arm permitting automatically alignment between the right front locking member and the right rear locking member as the right front locking member and the right rear locking member engage one another.
19 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.