초록 ▼

An offset tow arm apparatus for towing an implement supported by at least one wheel having a rotational axis perpendicular to the operating travel direction comprises a tow arm having an inner end and an outer end. A pivot arm has a rear end pivotally attached to an inner portion of the tow arm and

An offset tow arm apparatus for towing an implement supported by at least one wheel having a rotational axis perpendicular to the operating travel direction comprises a tow arm having an inner end and an outer end. A pivot arm has a rear end pivotally attached to an inner portion of the tow arm and a front end adapted for pivotal attachment to a towing vehicle hitch. A lock is operative to lock the pivot arm in a fixed position with respect to the tow arm. An outer castor wheel is pivotally attached to the apparatus to support the outer end of the lateral, and an inner castor wheel is pivotally attached to support the inner end of the tow arm. An implement hitch is attached to an outer portion of the tow arm between the outer and inner castor wheels and is adapted for attachment of an implement to be towed behind the tow arm. The apparatus is adapted to prevent lateral movement of the implement with respect to the tow arm.

대표청구항 ▼

An offset tow arm apparatus for towing an implement supported by at least one wheel having a rotational axis perpendicular to the operating travel direction comprises a tow arm having an inner end and an outer end. A pivot arm has a rear end pivotally attached to an inner portion of the tow arm and

An offset tow arm apparatus for towing an implement supported by at least one wheel having a rotational axis perpendicular to the operating travel direction comprises a tow arm having an inner end and an outer end. A pivot arm has a rear end pivotally attached to an inner portion of the tow arm and a front end adapted for pivotal attachment to a towing vehicle hitch. A lock is operative to lock the pivot arm in a fixed position with respect to the tow arm. An outer castor wheel is pivotally attached to the apparatus to support the outer end of the lateral, and an inner castor wheel is pivotally attached to support the inner end of the tow arm. An implement hitch is attached to an outer portion of the tow arm between the outer and inner castor wheels and is adapted for attachment of an implement to be towed behind the tow arm. The apparatus is adapted to prevent lateral movement of the implement with respect to the tow arm. auses said shaft member to move such that said friction member substantially contemporaneously moves from a first position in substantial contact with the surface on which the wheelchair is located to a second position spaced a distance above the surface on which the wheelchair is located. 2. The brake apparatus of claim 1, wherein said connection mechanism further comprises at least one biasing member operatively coupled to said pivoting member to bias said pivoting member in a first rotation direction to cause said friction member in said first position to contact a ground surface on which the wheelchair is sitting.3. The brake apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said shaft member is received within one of said at least one through-bores, and at least a portion of said seat actuation member is received with another one of said at least one through-bores.4. The brake apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pivoting member further comprises at least one set screw adapted to be positioned within said at least one fastening bore to operatively retain said portion of at least one of said shaft member and said seat actuation member positioned within said at least one through-bore, wherein respective lengths of said shaft member and said seat actuation member extending from said pivoting member are adjusted by moving said portions thereof positioned within a respective one of said through-bores and fixed via said at least one set screw positioned within said at least one fastening bore.5. An automatically engageable and releasable brake apparatus adaptable to be attached to a wheelchair, said brake apparatus comprising: a first connection mechanism adapted to be attached directly to a portion of the frame of the wheelchair proximate a rear wheel of the wheelchair; a first seat actuation member extending from a portion of said first connection mechanism and adapted to be positioned substantially beneath the seat of the wheelchair; a first shaft member extending in a logitudinal direction from a first end thereof to an opposed second end thereof, and positioned to extend substantially downwardly in said longitudinal direction from a portion of first connection mechanism proximate said first end of said first shaft member; a first friction member positioned proximate said second end of said first shaft member and adapted to contact a ground surface on which the wheelchair is sitting; a second connection mechanism adapted to be attached directly to a portion of the frame of the wheelchair proximate the other rear wheel of the wheelchair; a second seat actuation member extending from a portion of said second connection mechanism and adapted to be positioned substantially beneath the seat of the wheelchair; a second shaft member extending in a longitudinal direction from a first end thereof to an opposed second end thereof, and positioned to extend substantial downwardly in said longitudinal direction from a portion of said second connection mechanism proximate said first end of said second shaft member; and a second friction member positioned proximate said second end of said second shaft member and adapted to contact a ground surface on which the wheelchair is sitting; wherein said first and said second connection mechanisms each comprise a first and a second pivoting member, respectively, said first pivoting member having a first pivot axis and said second pivoting member having a second pivot axis, and each of said first and said second pivoting members being rotatably coupled to a respective one of said first and said second connection mechanisms and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the rear wheel of the wheelchair; wherein said first and said second pivoting members each comprise at least one through-bore passing from a portion of an outer surface of a respective one of said first and said second pivoting members through said first and said second piv ot axes to an opposed portion of the outer surface of said first and said second pivoting members, respectively; and wherein occupational ingress activates said first seat actuation member to move from a first position to a second position, which in turn causes said first shaft member to move such that said first friction member substantially contemporaneously moves from a first position in substantial contact with the surface on which the wheelchair is located to a second position spaced a distance above the surface on which the wheelchair is located, and further activates said second seat actuation member to move in relative concert with said first seat actuation member from a first position to a second position, which in turn causes said second shaft member to move such that said second friction member substantially contemporaneously moves in relative concert with said first friction member from a first position in substantial contact with the surface on which the wheelchair is located to a second position spaced a distance above the surface on which the wheelchair is located. 6. The brake apparatus of claim 5, wherein said first and second shaft members are substantially parallel in said longitudinal direction, and said first and second shaft members axially oppose each other transversely across a distance in a direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal direction.7. The brake apparatus of claim 5, wherein said first and said second connection mechanisms further comprise a first biasing member and a second biasing member, respectively, said first and said second biasing members being operatively coupled to said first and said second pivoting members to bias a respective one of said first and said second pivoting members in a first rotation direction to cause a respective one of said first and said second friction members in said first position to contact a ground surface on which the wheelchair is sitting.8. The brake apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of said first shaft member is received within one of said at least one through-bores of said first pivoting member, at least a portion of said second shaft member is received within one of said at least one through-bores of said second pivoting member, at least a portion of said first seat actuation member is received within another one of said at least one through-bores of said first pivoting member and at least a portion of said second seat actuation member is received with another one of said at least one through-bores of said second pivoting member.9. The brake apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of said first and said second pivoting members further comprise at least one fastening bore positioned perpendicular to said at least one through-bore, wherein said at least one fastening bore passes from the outer surface of a respective one of said first and said second pivoting members, intersects a respective one of said pivot axes, and terminates proximate a respective one of said first and said second pivot axes at a position within a respective one of said at least one through-bores.10. The brake apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first and said second pivoting members further comprise at least one set screw adapted to be positioned within said at least one fastening bore to operatively retain at least one of said shaft member and said seat actuation member positioned within a portion of said at least one through-bore, wherein the respective lengths of said shaft member and said seat actuation member extending from said pivoting member are adjusted by moving said portions thereof positioned within a respective one of said through-bores and fixed via said at least one set screw.11. An automatically engageable and releasable brake apparatus adaptable to be attached to a wheelchair, said brake apparatus comprising: a first connection mechanism adapted to be attached directly to a portion of the frame of the wheelchair proximate a rear wheel