Invacare Corporation

Daniel J Stothard

Robert Bekoscke

Robert L Cuson

Robert A Bekoscke

Several embodiments of wheeled vehicles, such as wheelchairs, that are adapted to traverse obstacles are disclosed. The wheeled vehicles include a frame, drive wheels, front anti-tip wheels positioned in front of the drive wheels, and rear anti-tip wheels positioned behind the drive wheels. One exemplary vehicle includes front anti-tip wheels supported by rigid arms that are fixed to the frame and drive assemblies that are independently suspended from the frame. Another exemplary vehicle includes a linkage that links the front and rear anti-tip wheels, such that movement of one of the front anti-tip wheel or the rear anti-tip wheel relative to the frame causes movement of the other wheel relative to the frame.

Wheelchair suspension

Wheeled vehicles, such as wheelchairs, that are adapted to traverse obstacles are provided. The wheeled vehicles include a frame, drive wheels, front anti-tip wheels positioned in front of the drive wheels and rear anti-tip wheels positioned behind the drive wheels. One exemplary vehicle includes front anti-tip wheels supported by rigid arms that are fixed to the frame and drive assemblies that are independently suspended from the frame. Another exemplary vehicle includes a linkage that links the front and rear anti-tip wheels, such that movement of one of the front or rear anti-tip wheel relative to the frame causes movement of the other wheel relative to the frame.

A wheelchair suspension assembly includes a frame, a drive assembly, an anti-tip linkage, a front anti-tip wheel, and a rear anti-tip wheel. The drive assembly includes a drive wheel. The front anti-tip wheel is positioned forward of the drive wheel by the anti-tip linkage. The rear anti-tip wheel is positioned rearward of the drive wheel the anti-tip linkage. The anti-tip linkage couples the front anti-tip wheel to the rear anti-tip wheel such that upward movement of the front anti-tip wheel relative to the frame causes upward movement of the rear anti-tip wheel relative to the frame. The anti-tip linkage includes a front anti-tip pivot arm that is pivotally coupled to the frame, a rear anti-tip pivot arm that is pivotally coupled to the frame, and a connecting link that couples the front anti-tip pivot arm and the rear anti-tip pivot arm.

Growing community of inventors

North Olmsted, OH, United States of America

Daniel J Stothard