Mobility vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12440405-B2
Application number	US-202418781710-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2024
Priority date	Jul 6, 2018
Publication date	Oct 14, 2025
Grant date	Oct 14, 2025

Abstract

A mobility vehicle may comprise a frame, a first pivot arm, a second pivot arm, and a suspension assembly. The first pivot arm may be coupled to the frame and coupled to a drive wheel. The second pivot arm may be coupled to the frame and coupled to a ground engaging caster wheel. The suspension assembly may be coupled to the frame. The suspension assembly may include a first spring assembly and a second spring assembly. The first spring assembly may be disposed about a first spring axis and coupled to the first pivot arm. The second spring assembly may be disposed about a second spring axis and coupled to the second pivot arm. The first spring axis and the second spring axis may be disposed relative to each other at an angle of no greater than about 150° when the mobility vehicle is operating on horizontal ground.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mobility vehicle comprising:
a frame having a bottom surface;
a stiffening assembly coupled to the bottom surface of the frame and having a stiffening axis extending from a left side of the frame to a right side of the frame;
a first pivot arm coupled to the stiffening assembly and to a drive wheel; and
a second pivot arm coupled to the stiffening assembly and a caster wheel,
wherein the first pivot arm and the second pivot arm are each pivotable relative to the stiffening assembly about respective pivot axes that are parallel to the stiffening axis.

2. The mobility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the stiffening assembly includes a plurality of stiffing members each stiffening member extending from the left side of the frame to the right side of the frame.

3. The mobility vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the stiffening assembly includes a plurality of bridges each bridge coupled to each of the plurality of stiffening members.

4. The mobility vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of stiffening members consists of two stiffening members and the plurality of bridges consists of two bridges.

5. The mobility vehicle of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of stiffening members includes a rod extending from the left side of the frame to the right side of the frame.

6. The mobility vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a drive wheel suspension coupled to the first pivot arm and to the frame.

7. The mobility vehicle of claim 6 , further comprising:
a castor wheel suspension coupled to the second pivot arm and to the frame.

8. The mobility vehicle of claim 7 , further comprising:
a link fixed to an external face of the frame, wherein the drive wheel suspension and the castor wheel suspension are coupled to the link.

9. The mobility vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the drive wheel suspension comprises:
a first spring assembly, disposed about a first spring axis, and coupled to the first pivot arm.

10. The mobility vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the castor wheel suspension comprises:
a second spring assembly, disposed about a second spring axis, and coupled to the second pivot arm.

11. The mobility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first pivot arm comprises an anti-tip element.

12. The mobility vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the first pivot arm is configured and dimensioned to cause the anti-tip element to move relative to a drive wheel axis when the first pivot arm pivots.

13. The mobility vehicle of claim 3 , wherein each bridge of the plurality of bridges is disposed at an outermost point of the frame.

14. The mobility vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the second pivot arm comprises:
a first substantially linear arm segment extending at least from a point at which the second pivot arm is coupled to the frame through a point at which the second pivot arm is coupled to the second spring assembly; and
a second arm segment extending from the linear arm segment to at least a castor stem axis.

15. The mobility vehicle of claim 10 wherein at least one of the first spring assembly and the second spring assembly comprises a spring disposed about co-axial damper.

16. The mobility vehicle of claim 8 , wherein a center of gravity of the mobility vehicle is positioned approximately at a midpoint between a vertical line passing through the link.

17. The mobility vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the first pivot arm is coupled to a gear box, and the gear box is coupled to a motor.

18. The mobility vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the gear box includes an axle coupled to a drive wheel.

19. The mobility vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the first pivot arm includes a first plate and a second plate, wherein:
the first plate is configured to be coupled to the gear box; and
the second plate is configured to be coupled to the anti-tip element.

Assignees

• Pride Mobility Products Corp

Inventors

• Davis Jonathan

Classifications

• B60G2300/24

  Wheelchairs · CPC title

• B60G2204/421

  Pivoted lever mechanisms for mounting suspension elements, e.g. Watt linkage · CPC title

• B60G21/045

  between wheels on different axles on the same side of the vehicle, i.e. the left or the right side · CPC title

• B60G3/145 Primary

  the arm forming the axle housing · CPC title

• A61G5/047

  by a modular detachable drive system · CPC title