IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0916199
(2010-10-29)
|
등록번호 |
US-8573613
(2013-11-05)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Evolution Technologies Inc.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
17 인용 특허 :
96 |
초록
▼
There is provided a foldable walker apparatus with a wheel fork and a frame portion having a first end facing the wheel fork, a first bore extending from the first end towards a second end opposite thereof, an exterior disposed between the first end of the frame portion and the second end of the fra
There is provided a foldable walker apparatus with a wheel fork and a frame portion having a first end facing the wheel fork, a first bore extending from the first end towards a second end opposite thereof, an exterior disposed between the first end of the frame portion and the second end of the frame portion, and a second bore disposed between the first end of the frame portion and the second end of the frame portion. The second bore extends from the exterior of the frame portion to the first bore in a direction generally perpendicular to the first bore. A shaft couples with the first bore and includes a recess facing the second bore. A bearing outer race couples to the wheel fork and a bearing inner race couples to the shaft. A securing member extends through the second bore and engages with the recess of the shaft.
대표청구항
▼
1. A walker apparatus comprising: a pivotable wheel fork having a first end configured to pivotally engage with a ground-engaging wheel, a second end opposite the first end, and a bore extending from the second end towards to the first end;a frame portion having a first end facing the wheel fork, a
1. A walker apparatus comprising: a pivotable wheel fork having a first end configured to pivotally engage with a ground-engaging wheel, a second end opposite the first end, and a bore extending from the second end towards to the first end;a frame portion having a first end facing the wheel fork, a second end opposite the first end, and a bore extending from the first end towards the second end;a shaft partially disposed within the bore of the frame portion so as to be coupled to the frame portion and partially disposed within the bore of the wheel fork;a bearing disposed within the bore of the wheel fork and having an outer race coupled to the wheel fork and an inner race coupled to the shaft, the bearing thereby rotatably supporting and enabling pivoting of the wheel fork about the shaft; andan alignment member at least partially disposed within the bore of the wheel fork, the alignment member having a first portion shaped to extend around and abut with the shaft and a resilient second portion configured to abut against portions of the wheel fork surrounding the bore, the alignment member thereby rotatably aligning and further supporting pivoting of the wheel fork about the shaft. 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shaft has a rotational axis and wherein the alignment member is so configured as to promote a consistent alignment of the wheel fork with the rotational axis. 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second portion of the alignment member includes a plurality of spaced-apart resilient projections for pressing against the bore of the wheel fork, the projections being positioned in an annular arrangement. 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the projections are plastic blades. 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second portion of the alignment member is configured to slidably engage with the bore of the wheel fork. 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first portion of the alignment member is adjacent to and abuts with the inner race of the bearing, and wherein the alignment member has a generally mushroom-like shape. 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first portion of the alignment member and the second portion of the alignment member have generally cylindrical shapes. 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second portion of the alignment member is spaced-apart from the bearings. 9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the alignment member abuts with the second end of the wheel fork and wherein the alignment member abuts with the first end of the frame portion. 10. A wheel mounting assembly for a walker apparatus comprising: a pivotable wheel fork pivotally engageable with a ground-engaging wheel;a frame portion facing the wheel fork;a shaft coupled to a first one of the wheel fork and the frame portion, the shaft rotatably connecting to a second one of the wheel fork and the frame portion;a bearing having an outer race coupled to said second one of the wheel fork and the frame portion and having an inner race coupled to the shaft, the bearing thereby rotatably supporting and enabling pivoting of the wheel fork about the shaft; andan alignment member having a first portion shaped to extend around and abut with the shaft and having a resilient second portion configured to abut against and slidably engage with portions of said second one of the wheel fork and the frame portion, the second portion of the alignment member being spaced-apart from the bearing, the alignment member thereby rotatably aligning and further supporting pivoting of the wheel fork about the shaft. 11. The assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second portion of the alignment member includes a plurality of spaced-apart resilient projections, the projections being positioned in an annular arrangement. 12. The assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the frame portion and the wheel fork each have bores through which the shaft extends, and wherein the second portion of the alignment member is at least partially disposed within the bore of said second one of the wheel fork and the frame portion. 13. The assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first portion of the alignment member is adjacent to and abuts with the inner race of the bearing, and wherein the alignment member has a generally mushroom-like shape. 14. In combination, the assembly as claimed in claim 10, together with the walker apparatus. 15. A walker apparatus comprising: a pivotable wheel fork having an interior and an annular groove disposed within the interior;a frame portion having a first end facing the wheel fork, a second end opposite the first end, a first bore extending from the first end towards the second end, an exterior disposed between the first end and the second end and a second bore disposed between the first end and the second end, the second bore extending from the exterior of the frame portion to the first bore in a direction generally perpendicular to the first bore;a shaft assembly partially disposed within the first bore so as to be coupled to the frame portion, the shaft assembly including a shaft having a recess positioned to face the second bore;a bearing having an outer race coupled to the wheel fork and an inner race coupled to the shaft, the outer race of the bearing being at least partially disposed within the annular groove of the wheel fork and being coupled to the wheel fork; anda securing member at least partially disposed within and extending through the second bore so as to be coupled to the frame portion, the securing member also being disposed to engage with the shaft, the shaft assembly being fixedly mounted to the frame portion thereby. 16. A walker apparatus comprising: a pivotable wheel fork;a frame portion having a first end facing the wheel fork, a second end opposite the first end, a first bore extending from the first end towards the second end, an exterior disposed between the first end and the second end and a second bore disposed between the first end and the second end, the second bore extending from the exterior of the frame portion to the first bore in a direction generally perpendicular to the first bore;a shaft assembly partially disposed within the first bore so as to be coupled to the frame portion, the shaft assembly including a shaft having a recess positioned to face the second bore, the shaft assembly further including a pair of spaced-apart annular shoulders and an annular recess disposed between the pair of spaced-apart annular shoulders;a bearing having an outer race coupled to the wheel fork and an inner race coupled to the shaft, the inner race being at least partially disposed within the annular recess of the shaft assembly and abutting the pair of annular shoulders; anda securing member at least partially disposed within and extending through the second bore so as to be coupled to the frame portion, the securing member also being disposed to engage with the shaft, the shaft assembly being fixedly mounted to the frame portion thereby. 17. The walker apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the shaft assembly includes a nut threadably engageable with the shaft and wherein one of the pair of annular shoulders is formed by the nut, the nut abutting the inner race of the bearing. 18. The walker apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the securing member is one from the group consisting of: a split tube press fit through the second bore and with portions of the frame portion surrounding the second bore; and a pin press fit through the second bore and with portions of the frame portion surrounding the second bore. 19. The walker apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the wheel fork has an interior and wherein the apparatus further includes a ground-engaging wheel rotatably mounted to the wheel fork and a protective cap being disposed within the interior of the wheel fork between the shaft and the wheel, the protective cap being shaped to inhibit debris from the wheel from reaching the shaft assembly, the bearing and the first bore and the second bore of the frame portion. 20. The walker apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the wheel fork includes a bore facing the wheel and wherein a cap is disposed within the bore of the wheel fork so as to be removably coupled to the wheel fork.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.