Stability control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9346335-B2
Application number	US-201414566899-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2014
Priority date	Feb 14, 2007
Publication date	May 24, 2016
Grant date	May 24, 2016

Abstract

Embodiments of a suspension for a vehicle is provided. The suspension includes, for example, a frame and a locking assembly. The locking assembly inhibits tipping of a frame of the vehicle when tipping of the frame is detected.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method of controlling tipping of a wheelchair frame based on downward movement of first and second rear casters with respect to the wheelchair frame comprising:
allowing upward and downward movement of first and second front casters relative to the frame when the first and second rear casters are in normal operating positions relative to the frame;
allowing upward and downward movement of the first and second front casters relative to the frame when one of the rear casters moves downward from a normal operating position relative to the frame;
inhibiting upward movement of the first and second front casters relative to the frame when both of the rear casters move downward from the normal operating positions relative to the frame.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein inhibiting upward movement of the first and second front casters relative to the frame comprises locking the first and second front casters against upward movement relative to the frame.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing downward movement of the first front caster and the second front caster relative to the frame when both of the rear casters move downward from the normal operating positions relative to the frame.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising biasing the first front caster and the second front caster downward relative to the frame when both of the rear casters move downward from the normal operating positions relative to the frame.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising locking the first front caster and the second front caster against downward movement relative to the frame when both of the rear casters move downward from the normal operating positions relative to the frame.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising unlocking the first front caster and the second front caster to allow upward movement of the first front caster and the second front caster relative to the frame when one or more of the rear casters return to a normal operating position relative to the frame.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising damping upward movement of the first and second front casters relative to the frame when one or more of the rear casters are in a normal operating position relative to the frame.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising sensing the positions of the first and second rear casters to determine whether the first and second rear casters are in a normal operating position relative to the frame.

9. A method of controlling tipping of a wheelchair frame based on downward movement of first and second rear casters with respect to the wheelchair frame comprising:
locking a first front caster and a second front caster against upward movement relative to the frame when both of the rear casters move downward from normal operating positions relative to the frame;
allowing upward movement of both the first front caster and the second front caster relative to the frame when one of the rear casters returns to a normal operating position relative to the frame.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising allowing downward movement of the first front caster and the second front caster relative to the frame when both of the rear casters move downward from the normal operating positions relative to the frame.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising locking the first front caster and the second front caster against downward movement relative to the frame when both of the rear casters move downward from the normal operating positions relative to the frame.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising sensing the positions of the first and second rear casters to determine whether the first and second rear casters are in a normal operating position relative to the frame.

Assignees

• Invacare Corp

Inventors

• Bekoscke Robert
• Jurkiewicz Damon
• Fought Gerald

Classifications

• A61G5/1078

  with shock absorbers or other suspension arrangements between wheels and frame · CPC title

• B60G2204/46

  Means for locking the suspension · CPC title

• B60G2300/24

  Wheelchairs · CPC title

• B60G2204/4605

  hydraulically, e.g. interrupting communication between the chambers of a hydraulic cylinder · CPC title

• B60G21/04 Primary

  mechanically · CPC title