wheelchair suspension

Abstract

A wheelchair suspension includes a frame, a drive assembly pivot arm, a drive assembly, a front caster pivot arm, a front caster, and a spring and shock absorbing assembly. A drive assembly pivot arm is pivotally connected to the frame. The drive assembly includes drive wheels and is mounted on the drive assembly pivot arm. The front caster pivot arm is pivotally mounted on the frame and coupled to the drive assembly pivot arm. The front caster is coupled to at least one front caster pivot arm. The spring and shock absorbing assembly is pivotally connected to the drive assembly pivot arm at a first pivot connection and is pivotally connected to the front caster pivot arm at a second pivot connection.

Description

[0001] related application [0002] This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 598,962, filed February 15, 2012, and entitled "Wheelchair Suspension." US Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 598,962 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Background technique [0003] Wheelchairs and scooters are an important means of transportation for a large segment of society. Whether human-powered or powered, these vehicles provide an important degree of independence to the people they help. However, this degree of independence may be limited if the wheelchair is required to negotiate obstacles such as curbs that are commonly found at the junction of sidewalks, driveways, and other paved surfaces. This degree of independence may also be limited if the vehicle is required to incline up or incline down. [0004] Most wheelchairs have front and rear casters to stabilize the wheelchair from tipping over forwards or backwards and to ensure ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Although this configuration provides greater stability to the wheelchair, it may impede the wheelchair's ability to climb over obstacles (e.g., curbs or the like) because the size of the front casters limits the obstacles that can be surmounted the height of

[0005] Although equipped with front and rear suspension casters, most intermediate wheel drive wheelchairs present varying degrees of potential for tipping over forward or backward when inclining down or inclining up

This is because the suspensions that hang the front or rear stabilizing casters are compromised so that they are not made too rigid, which will prevent tipping, and don't provide much suspension, or are made too flexible, to be effective provide any degree of suspension or stability

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