IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0721554
(2010-03-10)
|
등록번호 |
US-8256786
(2012-09-04)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Ludovici, Alan N
- Garven, Doug
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
2 인용 특허 :
7 |
초록
▼
A caster mount assembly for a front caster of a wheelchair. The assembly includes a first rotatable body having a first plurality of non-uniformly spaced apart apertures and a second rotatable body having a second plurality of non-uniformly spaced apart apertures. The first and second rotatable bodi
A caster mount assembly for a front caster of a wheelchair. The assembly includes a first rotatable body having a first plurality of non-uniformly spaced apart apertures and a second rotatable body having a second plurality of non-uniformly spaced apart apertures. The first and second rotatable bodies may be rotated relative to one another along a common axis of rotation to align a selected one of the first apertures with a selected one of the second apertures. The first rotatable body is non-rotatably coupled to the second rotatable body by a first coupler after the selected first aperture and second aperture have been aligned. A bearing fork assembly is non-rotatably coupled to the second rotatable body for rotation therewith. The second rotatable body may be rotated to orient an upright pivot pin of the bearing fork assembly substantially perpendicular to a support surface.
대표청구항
▼
1. A caster mount assembly comprising: a first rotatable body having a first plurality of non-uniformly spaced apart apertures;a second rotatable body having a second plurality of non-uniformly spaced apart apertures, the first rotatable body and the second rotatable body being rotatable relative to
1. A caster mount assembly comprising: a first rotatable body having a first plurality of non-uniformly spaced apart apertures;a second rotatable body having a second plurality of non-uniformly spaced apart apertures, the first rotatable body and the second rotatable body being rotatable relative to one another along a common axis of rotation to align a selected one of the first apertures with a selected one of the second apertures;a coupler configured to non-rotatably couple the first rotatable body to the second rotatable body after the selected one of the first apertures has been aligned with the selected one of the second apertures; anda bearing fork assembly non-rotatably coupled to the second rotatable body for rotation therewith. 2. The caster mount assembly of claim 1, wherein the coupler is a first coupler, and the caster mount assembly further comprises: a second coupler configured to rotatably couple the first rotatable body to the second rotatable body, the first coupler being configured to allow the first and second rotatable bodies to rotate relative to one another about the common axis of rotation to position the first rotatable body relative to the second rotatable body. 3. The caster mount assembly of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of non-uniformly spaced apart apertures are positioned in a first substantially circular arrangement and comprise: a first aperture;a second aperture spaced about 59 degrees from the first aperture within the first substantially circular arrangement;a third aperture spaced about 59 degrees from the second aperture within the first substantially circular arrangement;a fourth aperture spaced about 59 degrees from the third aperture within the first substantially circular arrangement;a fifth aperture spaced about 59 degrees from the fourth aperture within the first substantially circular arrangement; anda sixth aperture spaced about 59 degrees from the fifth aperture within the first substantially circular arrangement, the sixth aperture spaced about 65 degrees from the first aperture within the first substantially circular arrangement. 4. The caster mount assembly of claim 3, wherein the second plurality of non-uniformly spaced apart apertures are positioned in a second substantially circular arrangement and comprise: a first aperture;a second aperture spaced about 125 degrees from the first aperture within the second substantially circular arrangement; anda third aperture spaced about 125 degrees from the second aperture within the second substantially circular arrangement, the third aperture spaced about 110 degrees from the first aperture within the second substantially circular arrangement. 5. The caster mount assembly of claim 4, wherein the first rotatable body comprises a first central aperture positioned on the common axis of rotation, the second rotatable body comprises a second central aperture positioned on the common axis of rotation, and the caster mount assembly further comprises: an elongated fastener extending along the common axis of rotation, the fastener extending through the first central aperture and into the second central aperture to rotatably couple the first rotatable body to the second rotatable body, the fastener allowing the first and second rotatable bodies to rotate relative to one another about the common axis of rotation to position the first rotatable body relative to the second rotatable body. 6. The caster mount assembly of claim 1, wherein the first rotatable body comprises a marker portion indicating the orientation of the first rotatable body. 7. A wheelchair for use on support surface, the wheelchair comprising: a frame;a first caster barrel coupled to the frame, the first caster barrel having a first substantially cylindrically shaped sidewall, the first sidewall having a first open end opposite a second open end and a slot positioned between the first and second open ends;a first rotatable body having a first portion receivable inside the first open end of the first sidewall of the first caster barrel, the first portion of the first rotatable body being rotatable inside the first open end of the first sidewall of the first caster barrel about a first axis of rotation, the first rotatable body comprising a first plurality of non-uniformly spaced apart apertures;a second rotatable body having a first portion receivable inside the second open end of the second sidewall of the first caster barrel, the first portion of the second rotatable body being rotatable inside the second open end of the first sidewall of the first caster barrel about the first axis of rotation, the second rotatable body comprising a second plurality of non-uniformly spaced apart apertures and a transverse aperture adjacent the slot of the first sidewall of the first caster barrel when the first portion of the second rotatable body is received inside the second open end of the first sidewall of the first caster barrel;a first fastener configured to non-rotatably couple a selected one of the first apertures with a selected one of the second apertures; anda first bearing fork assembly having a portion extending into the slot of the first sidewall of the first caster barrel and into the transverse aperture of the second rotatable body, the portion of the first bearing fork assembly being coupled inside the transverse aperture of the second rotatable body for rotation with the second rotatable body as the second rotatable body rotates inside the second open end of the first sidewall of the first caster barrel to determine an angle of the first bearing fork assembly relative to the support surface. 8. The wheelchair of claim 7, wherein the first rotatable body has a graspable portion non-rotatably coupled to the first portion, the graspable portion being positioned outside the first sidewall of the first caster barrel and configured to be gripped and rotated to align the selected one of the first apertures with the selected one of the second apertures. 9. The wheelchair of claim 7, wherein the second rotatable body has a graspable portion non-rotatably coupled to the first portion, the graspable portion being positioned outside the first sidewall of the first caster barrel and configured to be gripped and rotated to align the selected one of the second apertures with the selected one of the first apertures. 10. The wheelchair of claim 7, wherein the first apertures are positioned such that at least a selected one of the first apertures is alignable with at least one of the second apertures every one degree of rotation about the first axis of rotation within a predetermined range of adjustment. 11. The wheelchair of claim 10, wherein the predetermined range of adjustment is approximately fifteen degrees. 12. The wheelchair of claim 7, wherein the first plurality of non-uniformly spaced apart apertures are positioned in a first substantially circular arrangement and comprise: a first aperture;a second aperture spaced about 59 degrees from the first aperture within the first substantially circular arrangement;a third aperture spaced about 59 degrees from the second aperture within the first substantially circular arrangement;a fourth aperture spaced about 59 degrees from the third aperture within the first substantially circular arrangement;a fifth aperture spaced about 59 degrees from the fourth aperture within the first substantially circular arrangement; anda sixth aperture spaced about 59 degrees from the fifth aperture within the first substantially circular arrangement, the sixth aperture being spaced apart from the about 65 degrees from the first aperture. 13. The wheelchair of claim 12, wherein the second plurality of non-uniformly spaced apart apertures are positioned in a second substantially circular arrangement and comprise: a first aperture;a second aperture spaced about 125 degrees from the first aperture within the second substantially circular arrangement; anda third aperture spaced about 125 degrees from the second aperture within the second substantially circular arrangement, the third aperture spaced about 110 degrees from the first aperture within the second substantially circular arrangement. 14. The wheelchair of claim 7, wherein the first rotatable body comprises a first central aperture positioned on the first axis of rotation, the second rotatable body comprises a second central aperture positioned on the first axis of rotation, and the wheelchair further comprises: an elongated fastener extending along the first axis of rotation, the fastener extending through the first central aperture and into the second central aperture to rotatably couple the first rotatable body to the second rotatable body, the fastener allowing the first and second rotatable bodies to rotate relative to one another about the first axis of rotation to position the first rotatable body relative to the second rotatable body. 15. The wheelchair of claim 7, wherein a plurality of cutout portions are formed in the first open end of the first sidewall of the first caster barrel, and the first rotatable body comprises a plurality of projections configured to be received inside the cutout portions to non-rotatably connect the first rotatable body to the first open end of the first sidewall of the first caster barrel. 16. The wheelchair of claim 15, wherein the cutout portions are spaced apart uniformly along the first open end of the first sidewall of the first caster barrel. 17. The wheelchair of claim 7, wherein the first rotatable body comprises a marker portion indicating the orientation of the first rotatable body relative to the first caster barrel. 18. The wheelchair of claim 7, further comprising: a second caster barrel coupled to the frame, the second caster barrel having a second substantially cylindrically shaped sidewall, the second sidewall having a first open end opposite a second open end and a slot positioned between the first and second open ends;a third rotatable body having a first portion receivable inside the first open end of the second sidewall of the second caster barrel, the first portion of the third rotatable body being rotatable inside the first open end of the second sidewall of the second caster barrel about a second axis of rotation, the third rotatable body comprising a third plurality of non-uniformly spaced apart apertures;a fourth rotatable body having a first portion receivable inside the second open end of the second sidewall of the second caster barrel, the first portion of the fourth rotatable body being rotatable inside the second open end of the second sidewall of the second caster barrel about the second axis of rotation, the fourth rotatable body comprising a fourth plurality of non-uniformly spaced apart apertures and a transverse aperture adjacent the slot of the second sidewall of the second caster barrel when the first portion of the fourth rotatable body is received inside the second open end of the second sidewall of the second caster barrel;a second fastener configured to non-rotatably couple a selected one of the third apertures with a selected one of the fourth apertures; anda second bearing fork assembly having a portion extending into the slot of the second sidewall of the second caster barrel and into the transverse aperture of the fourth rotatable body, the portion of the second bearing fork assembly being coupled inside the transverse aperture of the fourth rotatable body for rotation with the fourth rotatable body as the fourth rotatable body rotates inside the second open end of the second sidewall of the second caster barrel to determine an angle of the second bearing fork assembly relative to the support surface. 19. The wheelchair of claim 18, wherein the first rotatable body comprises a first marker portion indicating the orientation of the first rotatable body relative to the first caster barrel and the third rotatable body comprises a second marker portion indicating the orientation of the third rotatable body relative to the second caster barrel. 20. The wheelchair of claim 18, wherein the first bearing fork assembly comprises a first fork rotatably couplable to a first wheel, the first fork having one tine or a pair of spaced apart tines, and the second bearing fork assembly comprises a second fork rotatably couplable to a second wheel, the second fork having one tine or a pair of spaced apart tines. 21. The wheelchair of claim 7, further comprising: a first rear wheel coupled to the frame and configured to be positionable relative thereto; anda second rear wheel coupled to the frame and configured to be positionable relative thereto, the positions of the first and second rear wheels relative to the frame determining at least in part an angle of the frame relative to the support surface. 22. The wheelchair of claim 7, wherein the first bearing fork assembly comprises a mono-fork rotatably couplable to a first front wheel by a first axle, the mono-fork comprising a single tine having a threaded aperture with inside threads formed therein, the first axle having a threaded distal end portion with outside threads formed thereon configured to threadedly engage the inside threads of the threaded aperture. 23. The wheelchair of claim 22, wherein the first bearing fork assembly further comprises an end cap and a fastener having outside threads formed thereon, the first axle having a proximal end portion with inside threads formed therein configured to be threadedly engaged the outside threads of the fastener, the fastener being configured to position the end cap against a side portion of the first front wheel to maintain the first front wheel on the first axle. 24. The wheelchair of claim 22, wherein the mono-fork comprises a substantially cylindrically shaped collar portion coupled to the tine, the collar having an outside circumferentially extending groove formed therein, and the wheelchair further comprises a bumper configured to be received inside the groove, the portion of the first bearing fork assembly extending into the slot of the first sidewall of the first caster barrel extending through the collar and being rotatably coupled thereto. 25. The wheelchair of claim 7, wherein the first bearing fork assembly comprises a mono-fork rotatably couplable to a first front wheel by a first axle, the mono-fork comprising a single tine having a threaded aperture with inside threads formed therein, the first axle having a threaded distal end portion permanently bonded inside the threaded aperture.
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