Wheelchair suspension

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9603762-B2
Application number	US-201414446735-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2014
Priority date	Feb 8, 2007
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

A suspension for a vehicle is provided. The suspension includes, for example, a frame, at least one drive assembly and at least one caster pivot arm. The at least one drive assembly and the at least one caster pivot arm are pivotally connected to the frame at a common pivot axis such that the drive assembly and the front caster pivot arm are pivotable relative to one another.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A wheelchair suspension comprising:
a frame;
a drive assembly pivotally mounted to the frame at a first pivot axis;
at least one caster pivot arm pivotally mounted to the frame and coupled to the drive assembly;
a variable length motion transfer member coupled to the drive assembly and the at least one caster pivot arm such that motion of the drive assembly is transferred to the at least one caster pivot arm by the variable length motion transfer member; a front caster coupled to the at least one caster pivot arm;
wherein torque applied by the drive assembly extends the variable length motion transfer member to a maximum length.

2. The wheelchair suspension of claim 1 wherein the at least one caster pivot arm is pivotally mounted to the frame at a second pivot axis and the first pivot axis is in front of the second pivot axis on the frame.

3. The wheelchair suspension of claim 1 wherein variable length motion transfer member is a shock absorber.

4. The wheelchair suspension of claim 1 wherein the variable length motion transfer member comprises a spring.

5. The wheelchair suspension of claim 1 wherein the drive assembly is mounted to a drive assembly pivot arm that is pivotally mounted to the frame at a first pivot axis and at least one caster pivot arm is pivotally mounted to the frame at a second pivot axis and the first pivot axis is in front of the second pivot axis on the frame.

6. The wheelchair suspension of claim 1 wherein the drive assembly pivot arm is pivotally connected to the frame at a first pivot axis and the at least one front caster pivot arm comprises first a first caster pivot arm pivotally coupled to the frame at a second pivot axis and second front caster pivot arm pivotally coupled to the frame at a third pivot axis.

Assignees

• Invacare Corp

Inventors

• Bekoscke Robert
• Jurkiewicz Damon

Classifications

• A61G5/04

  motor-driven (A61G5/06 takes precedence; motor-operated rests A61G5/12; for vehicles with handlebars, equipped with three or more wheels B62K5/003, B62K5/023) · CPC title

• A61G5/10

  Parts, details or accessories · CPC title

• A61G2203/14

  Joysticks · CPC title

• A61G5/06 Primary

  with obstacle mounting facilities, e.g. for climbing stairs, {kerbs or steps} · CPC title

• A61G5/1078

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