Suspension for wheeled vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9925100-B2
Application number	US-201615151929-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2016
Priority date	Oct 25, 2002
Publication date	Mar 27, 2018
Grant date	Mar 27, 2018

Abstract

A wheelchair suspension comprises a frame, at least one pivot arm, at least one front caster, at least one rear caster, a stabilizing system, and a sensor. The pivot arm is coupled to the frame. The front caster is coupled to the pivot arm. The rear caster is coupled to the frame. The stabilizing system is coupled to the frame and the pivot arm. The sensor is arranged such that tipping of the frame causes actuation of the stabilizing system to at least partially resist further movement of the frame.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method of stabilizing a wheelchair frame comprising:
creating a magnetic field between a magnet and a locking member upon relative upward movement of the wheelchair frame with respect to a rear caster;
wherein creating the magnetic field causes the locking member to at least partially resist tipping to the frame by at least partially resisting movement of a front caster relative to the frame.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein creating the magnetic field at least partially resists upward and downward movement of the front caster relative to the frame.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing downward movement of the front caster with respect to the frame when the magnetic field is not created.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the front caster is a first front caster and creating the magnetic field simultaneously resists movement of the first front caster and a second front caster relative to the frame.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the locking member comprises a piston and a magnetic fluid, wherein the piston comprises a valve that allows the magnetic fluid to pass from one side of the piston to the other side of the piston when the magnetic field is not created.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein creating the magnetic field causes the magnetic fluid viscosity to increase thereby not allowing the fluid to flow through the valve in the piston.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the magnet is coupled to an actuator, wherein the actuator moves the magnet toward the locking member to create the magnetic field.

Assignees

• Invacare Corp

Inventors

• Goertzen Gerold
• Null William A
• Cuson Robert L

Classifications

• B60G7/005

  Ball joints (B60G7/006 takes precedence; for steering linkage B62D7/16; ball joints per se F16C11/06) · CPC title

• Y10S180/907

  Motorized wheelchairs · CPC title

• A61G5/101

  of the parking brake type, e.g. holding the wheelchair · CPC title

• B60G2204/4604

  mechanically, e.g. using a hook as anticreep mechanism · CPC title

• B60G2500/10

  Damping action or damper · CPC title