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US 8,573,341 B2Granted
Wheelchair suspension
AssigneeInvacare Corporation
InventorGerald E. Fought
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a suspension for a conveyance that is capable of traversing obstacles and rough terrain. The suspension includes a frame, a pivot arm, a front caster, a drive assembly and a rear caster. The pivot arm and the drive assembly are coupled and decoupled based on movement of the drive assembly.
Claims25
A wheelchair comprising:
- a frame;
- a front caster assembly comprising a pivot arm that is pivotally coupled to the frame;
- a drive assembly that is pivotally coupled to the frame;
- an interface between the caster assembly and the drive assembly that engages and disengages based on relative movement between the drive assembly and the front caster assembly comprising:
- at least one inwardly curved surface;
- and
- at least one outwardly curved surface disposed substantially opposite the at least one inwardly curved surface.
4 more elements
A wheelchair comprising:
- a frame;
- a front caster assembly comprising a pivot arm that is pivotally coupled to the frame;
- a drive assembly that is pivotally coupled to the frame;
- an interface between the caster assembly and the drive assembly that engages and disengages based on relative movement between the drive assembly and the front caster assembly comprising:
- at least one concave surface;
- and
- at least one convex surface, the convex surface and the concave surface being moveable between a first position where the concave surface receives the convex surface to a second position where the concave surface and the convex surface are spaced apart.
4 more elements
A wheelchair comprising:
- a frame;
- a front caster assembly comprising a pivot arm that is pivotally coupled to the frame;
- a drive assembly that is pivotally coupled to the frame;
- an interface between the caster assembly and the drive assembly that engages and disengages based on relative movement between the drive assembly and the front caster assembly comprising:
- a first surface that is undulating in character;
- and
- a second surface, the first surface and the second surface being moveable between a first position where the undulating surface at least partially receives the second surface to a second position where at least a portion of the first surface and the second surface are spaced apart.
4 more elements
A wheelchair suspension comprising:
- a frame;
- a pivot arm pivotally coupled to the frame;
- a front caster coupled to the pivot arm;
- a drive assembly that is pivotally coupled to the frame;
- a rear caster coupled to the frame;
- an interface comprising a drive assembly interface surface and a pivot arm interface surface that are coupled such that movement of the drive assembly in a first direction decouples the drive assembly interface surface from the pivot arm interface surface and movement of the drive assembly in a second direction couples the drive assembly interface surface to the pivot arm interface surface.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.