IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0077483
(2005-03-10)
|
등록번호 |
US-7293801
(2007-11-13)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Bertrand,John E.
- Goertzen,Gerald
- Null, Jr.,William A.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
30 인용 특허 :
76 |
초록
▼
A suspension for a vehicle is provided. The suspension includes, for example, a frame and a releasable locking assembly. The releasable locking assembly has, for example, a first assembly movably coupled to the frame, a second assembly movably coupled to the frame, and wherein movement of the frame
A suspension for a vehicle is provided. The suspension includes, for example, a frame and a releasable locking assembly. The releasable locking assembly has, for example, a first assembly movably coupled to the frame, a second assembly movably coupled to the frame, and wherein movement of the frame relative to the first and second assemblies causes the first and second assemblies to engage each other to limit further movement of the frame in at least a first direction.
대표청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A suspension for a wheeled vehicle, comprising: a frame; a first assembly movably connected to the frame; a first locking member movably connected to the first assembly; a second assembly movably connected to the frame; and a second locking member connected to the secon
The invention claimed is: 1. A suspension for a wheeled vehicle, comprising: a frame; a first assembly movably connected to the frame; a first locking member movably connected to the first assembly; a second assembly movably connected to the frame; and a second locking member connected to the second assembly; and wherein movement of the frame relative to at least one of the first and second assemblies causes the first and second locking members to engage one another to permit the first and second assemblies to cooperate to limit further movement of the frame in at least one direction; and wherein the first locking member automatically aligns with the second locking member as the locking members engage one another. 2. The suspension of claim 1, wherein the first assembly comprises a first pivot arm pivotally connected to the frame and further comprises a first caster operatively connected to the first pivot arm, and wherein the second assembly comprises a second pivot arm pivotally connected to the frame and further comprises a second caster operatively connected to the second pivot arm. 3. The suspension of claim 1, wherein the first locking member is movably connected to the first assembly in a manner that the first locking member has positional memory such that the relative position of the first locking member during an engagement with the second locking member with respect to at least one orientation or direction will be maintained after disengagement, and the first locking member also is movably connected to the first assembly in a manner that will also permit the first locking member to self-align in that direction or orientation for the next engagement, if necessary. 4. The suspension of claim 1, wherein the first locking member is movably connected to the first assembly in a manner that the first locking member is free to move in a first direction when the first and second locking members engage and is free to move in an opposite direction when the first and second locking members disengage. 5. The suspension of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member operatively connected to bias the first locking member against a surface to provide positional memory to the first locking member relative to the first assembly. 6. The suspension of claim 1, wherein the first and second locking members are spaced apart by ⅜ of an inch or more when the wheeled vehicle is at rest on a flat, level surface. 7. The suspension of claim 1, wherein the first and second locking members are spaced apart by about a half-inch when the wheeled vehicle is at rest on a flat, level surface. 8. The suspension of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second assemblies comprise at least one pivot arm pivotally connected to the frame and further comprise at least one link pivotally connected to the frame, operatively connected to the at least one pivot arm, and operatively connected to the associated locking member; and wherein the at least one link cooperates with the at least one pivot arm to cause the first locking member to engage the second locking member responsive to movement of the frame relative to at least one of the first and second assemblies. 9. The suspension of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second assemblies comprise at least one pivot arm pivotally connected to the frame and further comprise at least one link pivotally connected to the frame, operatively connected to the at least one pivot arm, and operatively connected to the associated locking member; wherein the at least one pivot arm has a caster operatively connected to an end thereof for carrying at least a portion of a load of the vehicle, with the other end of the at least one pivot arm being connected to the at least one link; and wherein the at least one link cooperates with the at least one pivot arm to cause the first locking member to engage the second locking member responsive to the frame tilting in a direction that causes the caster to become unloaded. 10. The suspension of claim 1, wherein the first locking member further comprises a first locking surface, wherein the second locking member further comprises a second locking surface for engaging the first locking surface, wherein the length of the second locking surface is greater than the length of the first locking surface, and wherein the geometry of the second locking surface is concave. 11. The suspension of claim 10, wherein the first assembly comprises a first pivot arm pivotally connected to the frame at a first pivot point and further wherein the geometry of the second locking surface of the second locking member is shaped substantially like a section of a hypothetical circle in cross-section, with the radius of the hypothetical circle being approximately the same length as a hypothetical line segment extending from a point on the first pivot point to a point on the first locking surface of the first locking member. 12. The suspension of claim 1, wherein the first locking member further comprises a first ratcheted surface, wherein the second locking member further comprises a second ratcheted surface for engaging the first ratcheted surface, wherein the length of the second ratcheted surface is greater than the length of the first ratcheted surface, and wherein the geometry of the second ratcheted surface is concave. 13. The suspension of claim 12, wherein the first assembly comprises a first pivot arm pivotally connected to the frame at a first pivot point and further wherein the geometry of the second ratcheted surface of the second locking member is shaped substantially like a section of a hypothetical circle in cross-section, with the radius of the hypothetical circle being approximately the same length as a hypothetical line segment extending from a point on the first pivot point to a point on the first ratcheted surface of the first locking member. 14. The suspension of claim 1, wherein the first assembly comprises a front pivot arm pivotally connected to the frame and further comprises a front caster operatively connected to the front pivot arm, wherein the second assembly comprises a rear pivot arm pivotally connected to the frame and further comprises a rear caster operatively connected to the second pivot arm, and wherein forward tipping movement of the frame causes the first and second locking members to engage one another to permit the first and second assemblies to cooperate to prevent the frame from tipping further forward. 15. A suspension for a wheeled vehicle, comprising: (a) a frame having a left side and a right side; (b) a left side suspension, comprising: a left front pivot arm pivotally connected to the left side of the frame; a left front locking member connected to the left front pivot arm; a left rear pivot arm pivotally connected to the left side of the frame; and a left rear locking member connected to the left rear pivot arm; and wherein movement of the frame relative to at least one of the left front and left rear pivot arms causes the left front locking member and the left rear locking member to engage one another to permit the left front and left rear pivot arms to cooperate to limit further movement of the frame in at least one direction; and wherein at least one of the left front locking member and the left rear locking member is a left movable locking member that is movably connected to a respective pivot arm permitting automatically alignment between the left front locking member and the left rear locking member as the left front locking member and the left rear locking member engage one another; and (c) a right side suspension, comprising: a right front pivot arm pivotally connected to the right side of the frame; a right front locking member connected to the right front pivot arm; a right rear pivot arm pivotally connected to the right side of the frame; and a right rear locking member connected to the right rear pivot arm; and wherein movement of the frame relative to at least one of the right front and right rear pivot arms causes the right front locking member and the right rear locking member to engage one another to permit the right front and right rear pivot arms to cooperate to limit further movement of the frame in at least one direction; and wherein at least one of the right front locking member and the right rear locking member is a right movable locking member that is movably connected to a respective pivot arm permitting automatically alignment between the right front locking member and the right rear locking member as the right front locking member and the right rear locking member engage one another. 16. The suspension of claim 15, wherein the left movable locking member is movably connected to a respective left pivot arm in a manner that the left movable locking member has positional memory such that the relative position of the left movable locking member during an engagement with the other left locking member with respect to at least one orientation or direction will be maintained after disengagement, and the left movable locking member also is movably connected to the respective left pivot arm in a manner that will also permit the left movable locking member to self-align in that direction or orientation for the next engagement, if necessary, and wherein the right movable locking member is movably connected to a respective right pivot arm in a manner that the right movable locking member has positional memory such that the relative position of the right movable locking member during an engagement with the other right locking member with respect to at least one orientation or direction will be maintained after disengagement, and the right movable locking member also is movably connected to the respective right pivot arm in a manner that will also permit the right movable locking member to self-align in that direction or orientation for the next engagement, if necessary. 17. The suspension of claim 15, wherein the left movable locking member is movably connected to a respective left pivot arm in a manner that the left movable locking member is free to move in a first direction when the left front locking member and the left rear locking member engage one another and wherein the left movable locking member is free to move in an opposite direction when the left front locking member and the left rear locking member disengage; and wherein the right movable locking member is movably connected to a respective right pivot arm in a manner that the right movable locking member is free to move in a first direction when the right front locking member and the right rear locking member engage one another and wherein the right movable locking member is free to move in an opposite direction when the right front locking member and the right rear locking member disengage. 18. The suspension of claim 15, further comprising a left biasing member operatively connected to bias the left movable locking member against a surface to provide positional memory to the left movable locking member relative to a respective left pivot arm; and further comprising a right biasing member operatively connected to bias the right movable locking member against a surface to provide positional memory to the right movable locking member relative to a respective right pivot arm. 19. The suspension of claim 15, wherein the left side suspension comprises at least one link pivotally connected to the frame and operatively connected between one of the left pivot arms and an associated left locking member; and wherein the at least one link cooperates with the one left pivot arm to cause the associated left locking member to engage the other left locking member responsive to movement of the frame relative to the one left pivot arm; and wherein the right side suspension comprises at least one link pivotally connected to the frame and operatively connected between one of the right pivot arms and an associated right locking member; and wherein the at least one link cooperates with the one right pivot arm to cause the associated right locking member to engage the other right locking member responsive to movement of the frame relative to the one right pivot arm. 20. The suspension of claim 15, wherein the left side suspension comprises at least one left link pivotally connected to the frame and operatively connected between one of the left pivot arms and an associated left locking member; wherein the one left pivot arm has a left caster operatively connected to an end thereof for carrying at least a portion of a load of the vehicle, with the other end of the one left pivot arm being connected to the at least one left link; and wherein the at least one link cooperates with the one left pivot arm to cause the associated left locking member to engage the other left locking member responsive to the frame tilting in a direction that causes the left caster to become unloaded; and wherein the right side suspension comprises at least one right link pivotally connected to the frame and operatively connected between one of the right pivot arms and an associated right locking member; wherein the one right pivot arm has a right caster operatively connected to an end thereof for carrying at least a portion of a load of the vehicle, with the other end of the one right pivot arm being connected to the at least one right link; and wherein the at least one link cooperates with the one right pivot arm to cause the associated right locking member to engage the other right locking member responsive to the frame tilting in a direction that causes the right caster to become unloaded. 21. The suspension of claim 15, wherein the left front locking member is directly connected to the left front pivot arm, wherein the left rear locking member is connected to the left rear pivot arm via a left pivoting link, wherein the right front locking member is directly connected to the right front pivot arm, and wherein the right rear locking member is connected to the right rear pivot arm via a right pivoting link.
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