Obstacle traversing wheel assembly
AssigneeKtech Concepts LLC
InventorKenan Wollborg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An obstacle traversing wheel assembly can include at least one primary wheel member mounted with a primary axis of rotation and capable of rolling engagement with a supporting surface, and at least one secondary wheel member mounted with a secondary axis of rotation. The secondary wheel member can have a plurality of surface engaging protrusions which enable the wheel assembly to traverse an obstacle by imparting climbing movement to the primary wheel member in response to engagement with the obstacle. The surface engaging protrusions can be defined by rolling wheel members. The obstacle traversing wheel assembly can be incorporated on a wide variety of wheel-bearing devices, such as wheelchairs, personal transportation devices, and intravenous fluid support racks.
Claims21
An obstacle traversing wheel assembly comprising:
- at least one primary wheel member, each primary wheel member rotatably mounted with respect to a primary axis of rotation, and capable of rolling engagement with a supporting surface;
- at least one secondary wheel member rotatably mounted with respect to the primary axis of rotation, wherein the at least one primary wheel member rotates independently of the at least one secondary wheel member;
- and
- at least five obstacle-engaging portions disposed on the at least one secondary wheel member for enabling the obstacle traversing wheel assembly to traverse an obstacle by imparting climbing movement to the at least one primary wheel member in response to engagement with the obstacle.
In an obstacle traversing wheel assembly having a primary wheel member mounted to a primary axis of rotation, an outer periphery of the primary wheel member capable of rolling engagement with a supporting surface, the primary wheel member supported by an axial pin, the improvement comprising:
- at least one secondary wheel member mounted having a common axis of rotation with respect to the primary axis of rotation, the at least one secondary wheel member separate from the primary wheel member;
- and
- five supporting-surface-engaging portions located on the at least one secondary wheel member and extending radially outwardly beyond the outer periphery of the primary wheel member for enabling the obstacle traversing wheel assembly to traverse an obstacle by imparting climbing movement to the primary wheel member in response to engagement of at least one of the five supporting-surface-engaging portions of the at least one secondary wheel member with the obstacle.
An obstacle traversing wheel assembly comprising:
- a primary wheel member mounted with respect to a primary axis of rotation, the primary wheel member having an outer periphery capable of rolling engagement with a supporting surface;
- at least one secondary wheel member mounted adjacent to the primary wheel member and axially offset with respect to the primary wheel member along the primary axis of rotation to provide independent coaxial rotation of the primary wheel member and the at least one secondary wheel member with respect to one another;
- and
- five supporting-surface-engaging portions, each having an outer periphery, the five supporting-surface-engaging portions located on the at least one secondary wheel member and extending radially outwardly beyond the outer periphery of the primary wheel member for enabling the obstacle traversing wheel assembly to traverse an obstacle by imparting climbing movement to the primary wheel member in response to engagement of at least one of the five supporting-surface-engaging portions of the at least one secondary wheel member with the obstacle.
An obstacle traversing wheel assembly comprising:
- a primary wheel member pivotally attached to a bracket, the primary wheel member having a primary axis of rotation about a first axis and an outer surface capable of rolling engagement with a supporting surface;
- and
- a secondary wheel member pivotally attached to the bracket, the secondary wheel member having a plurality of relatively rigid, fixed protrusions evenly spaced about the secondary wheel member, each protrusion having a first portion disposed radially inward of the outer surface of the primary wheel member and an obstacle-engaging portion disposed radially outward of the primary wheel member, the secondary wheel member having a secondary axis of rotation about a second axis substantially vertically aligned with the first axis, the primary wheel member being independently rotatable relative to the secondary wheel member;
- each of the obstacle-engaging portions enabling the obstacle traversing wheel assembly to traverse an obstacle by imparting climbing movement to the primary wheel member in response to engagement with the obstacle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.