The present invention relates to wheelchair improvements and, in particular, to a wheelchair including a monocoque structural skin according to one aspect, and a suspension assembly according to another aspect.
대표청구항▼
1. A suspension assembly for wheels of a wheelchair, the wheelchair including a wheelchair frame having a longitudinal axis and at least one drive wheel, the longitudinal axis extending from a front, central portion of the wheelchair frame to a rear, central portion of the wheelchair frame such that
1. A suspension assembly for wheels of a wheelchair, the wheelchair including a wheelchair frame having a longitudinal axis and at least one drive wheel, the longitudinal axis extending from a front, central portion of the wheelchair frame to a rear, central portion of the wheelchair frame such that the longitudinal axis extends along a forward/backward direction of travel of said wheelchair, said suspension assembly including: a linkage support structure associated with the wheelchair frame;at least two linkages extending upwardly and transversely outwardly from each of opposed left and right sides of said linkage support structure, each of the left and right side linkages being pivotably connected at a first end thereof to said linkage support structure in a configuration that enables the left and right side linkages to be independently pivotable with respect to one another, and wherein axes of rotation associated with the pivotable connection between the first ends of each of the left and right side linkages and the linkage support structure extend along or parallel to said longitudinal axis; anda left and right wheel suspended substantially downwardly and perpendicularly from a respective left and right wheel support member, wherein a second end of each of said left side linkages is pivotably connected to said left wheel support member and a second end of each of said right side linkages is pivotably connected to said right wheel support member, and wherein at least one of said at least two linkages extending from each of the left and right hand sides of the linkage support structure is disposed vertically higher than a second of said at least two linkages such that when any one or both of the left and right wheels encounters a surface that causes relative vertical movement between the corresponding wheel support member and the linkage support structure, the corresponding wheel support member maintains an orientation in which the suspended wheel remains in said substantially downward and perpendicular suspension. 2. A suspension assembly according to claim 1, wherein each linkage is of a curved shape and is oriented such that the curve extends upwardly and transversely outwardly from said linkage support structure such that each said wheel support member is disposed vertically higher than the linkage support structure. 3. A suspension assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the linkage support structure and the left and right wheel support members is oriented substantially horizontally along respective transverse axes in said first position, said linkages causing each of said respective transverse axes to remain in a substantially parallel relationship when either one of the wheel support members moves after the any one of the wheels encounters the surface that causes the relative vertical movement between the linkage support structure and the left or right wheel support members. 4. A suspension assembly according to claim 3, wherein said wheelchair includes two wheels disposed at a front of the wheelchair on the left and right sides of the structural component, and the linkage support structure extends rearwardly from the structural component to support said left and right wheel support members via said linkages. 5. A suspension assembly according to claim 4 wherein said front wheels are drive wheels, and rear wheels connected to the wheel support members are non-drive wheels. 6. A suspension assembly according to claim 1, further including a means of self-leveling the suspended wheels after having been vertically disposed. 7. A suspension assembly according to claim 6, wherein said means of self-levelling is in a fully extended or biased configuration when neither of the suspended wheels is vertically disposed such that when one of the wheels becomes vertically disposed, the means of self-levelling will cause the wheel to be moved back to an original position once allowed to do so. 8. A suspension assembly according to claim 7, wherein the means of self-leveling is in the form of a shock absorber pivotably connected between the left and right linkage. 9. A suspension assembly according to claim 8, wherein the shock absorber extends transversely and includes a cylinder which houses a moveable piston configured to extend and retract out from one end of the cylinder, wherein the piston is pivotably connected at a free end to the first linkage disposed left of the linkage support structure, and the cylinder is pivotably connected at a closed end to the first linkage disposed right of the linkage support structure. 10. A suspension assembly according to claim 1, wherein the linkage support structure includes two vertically disposed, transverse tabs which provide a connecting surface for said linkage first ends, wherein the first end of each first linkage is pivotably connected to an upper of said vertically disposed tabs and the first end of each second linkage is pivotably connected to the lower of the tabs. 11. A suspension assembly according to claim 10, wherein each said wheel support member includes a base section from which the wheel is suspended and an upright section having two vertically disposed, transverse tabs, wherein the second end of each first linkage is pivotably connected to an upper of said vertically disposed tabs and the second end of each second linkage is pivotably connected to the lower of the tabs. 12. A suspension assembly according to claim 11, wherein the suspension assembly includes three linkages connecting the linkage support structure to each of the left and right wheel support members, each said linkage being spaced apart along said longitudinal axis and including two lower linkages and one elevated linkage disposed there between, wherein each of the linkage support structure and wheel support members includes a corresponding number and arrangement of tabs. 13. A suspension assembly according to claim 12, wherein each said tab includes a pair of spaced tab portions adapted to accommodate a linkage end therebetween. 14. A manual or powered wheelchair incorporating a suspension assembly according to claim 1. 15. A wheelchair according to claim 14 further including a load-bearing, monocoque structural skin. 16. A wheelchair according to claim 15, wherein said wheelchair is an electrically powered wheelchair and said monocoque structural skin includes: a base surface;upright side wall surfaces associated with said base surface and configured to accommodate at least one drive wheel axle for wheelchair drive wheels; andan upper surface associated with said side wall surfaces for supporting a chair, wherein said base surface, said side wall surfaces and said upper surface define a compartment for housing at least a battery for electrically driving said drive wheels. 17. A wheelchair according to claim 16, wherein said base surface includes the linkage support structure extending along an underside of said base surface towards a rear of the monocoque structural skin. 18. A suspension assembly for one or more wheels of a wheelchair, the wheelchair including a structural component having a longitudinal axis extending along a forward/backward direction of travel of the wheelchair and at least one drive wheel, said suspension assembly including: a linkage support structure associated with the wheelchair structural component and extending along or parallel to said longitudinal axis;at least two linkages extending upwardly and transversely outwardly from each of opposed left and right sides of said linkage support structure, each of the left and right side linkages being independently pivotably connected at a first end to said linkage support structure;a left and right wheel suspended substantially downwardly and perpendicularly from a respective left and right wheel support member, wherein a second end of each of said left side linkages is pivotably connected to said left wheel support member and a second end of each of said right side linkages is pivotably connected to said right wheel support member, and wherein at least one of said at least two linkages extending from each of the left and right hand sides of the linkage support structure is disposed vertically higher than a second of said at least two linkages such that when any one or both of the left and right wheels encounters a surface that causes relative vertical movement between the corresponding wheel support members and the linkage support structure, the corresponding wheel support members maintains an orientation in which the suspended wheel remains in said substantially downward and perpendicular suspension;further including a means of self-leveling the suspended wheels after having been vertically disposed;wherein said means of self-levelling is in a fully extended or biased configuration when neither of the suspended wheels is vertically disposed such that when one of the wheels becomes vertically disposed, the means of self-levelling will cause the wheel to be moved back to an original position once allowed to do so;wherein the means of self-leveling is in the form of a shock absorber pivotably connected between the left and right linkage; andwherein the shock absorber extends transversely and includes a cylinder which houses a moveable piston configured to extend and retract out from one end of the cylinder, wherein the piston is pivotably connected at a free end to the first linkage disposed left of the linkage support structure, and the cylinder is pivotably connected at a closed end to the first linkage disposed right of the linkage support structure. 19. A suspension assembly for one or more wheels of a wheelchair, the wheelchair including a structural component having a longitudinal axis extending along a forward/backward direction of travel of the wheelchair and at least one drive wheel, said suspension assembly including: a linkage support structure associated with the wheelchair structural component and extending along or parallel to said longitudinal axis;at least two linkages extending upwardly and transversely outwardly from each of opposed left and right sides of said linkage support structure, each of the left and right side linkages being independently pivotably connected at a first end to said linkage support structure;a left and right wheel suspended substantially downwardly and perpendicularly from a respective left and right wheel support member, wherein a second end of each of said left side linkages is pivotably connected to said left wheel support member and a second end of each of said right side linkages is pivotably connected to said right wheel support member, and wherein at least one of said at least two linkages extending from each of the left and right hand sides of the linkage support structure is disposed vertically higher than a second of said at least two linkages such that when any one or both of the left and right wheels encounters a surface that causes relative vertical movement between the corresponding wheel support members and the linkage support structure, the corresponding wheel support members maintains an orientation in which the suspended wheel remains in said substantially downward and perpendicular suspension;further including a means of self-leveling the suspended wheels after having been vertically disposed;wherein said means of self-levelling is in a fully extended or biased configuration when neither of the suspended wheels is vertically disposed such that when one of the wheels becomes vertically disposed, the means of self-levelling will cause the wheel to be moved back to an original position once allowed to do so;wherein the means of self-leveling is in the form of a shock absorber pivotably connected between the left and right linkage; andwherein the shock absorber extends transversely and includes a cylinder which houses a moveable piston configured to extend and retract out from one end of the cylinder, wherein the piston is pivotably connected at a free end to the first linkage disposed right of the linkage support structure, and the cylinder is pivotably connected at a closed end to the first linkage disposed left of the linkage support structure. 20. A suspension assembly for one or more wheels of a wheelchair, the wheelchair including a structural component having a longitudinal axis extending along a forward/backward direction of travel of the wheelchair and at least one drive wheel, said suspension assembly including: a linkage support structure associated with the wheelchair structural component and extending along or parallel to said longitudinal axis;at least two linkages extending upwardly and transversely outwardly from each of opposed left and right sides of said linkage support structure, each of the left and right side linkages being independently pivotably connected at a first end to said linkage support structure;a left and right wheel suspended substantially downwardly and perpendicularly from a respective left and right wheel support member, wherein a second end of each of said left side linkages is pivotably connected to said left wheel support member and a second end of each of said right side linkages is pivotably connected to said right wheel support member, and wherein at least one of said at least two linkages extending from each of the left and right hand sides of the linkage support structure is disposed vertically higher than a second of said at least two linkages such that when any one or both of the left and right wheels encounters a surface that causes relative vertical movement between the corresponding wheel support members and the linkage support structure, the corresponding wheel support members maintains an orientation in which the suspended wheel remains in said substantially downward and perpendicular suspension;wherein the linkage support structure includes two vertically disposed, transverse tabs which provide a connecting surface for said linkage first ends, wherein the first end of each first linkage is pivotably connected to an upper of said vertically disposed tabs and the first end of each second linkage is pivotably connected to the lower of the tabs;wherein each said wheel support member includes a base section from which the wheel is suspended and an upright section having two vertically disposed, transverse tabs, wherein the second end of each first linkage is pivotably connected to an upper of said vertically disposed tabs and the second end of each second linkage is pivotably connected to the lower of the tabs; andwherein the suspension assembly includes three linkages connecting the linkage support structure to each of the left and right wheel support members, each said linkage being spaced apart along said longitudinal axis and including two lower linkages and one elevated linkage disposed there between, wherein each of the linkage support structure and wheel support members includes a corresponding number and arrangement of tabs. 21. A suspension assembly according to claim 20, wherein each said tab includes a pair of spaced tab portions adapted to accommodate a linkage end therebetween. 22. A suspension assembly for wheels of a wheelchair, the wheelchair including a wheelchair frame having a longitudinal axis and at least one drive wheel, the longitudinal axis extending from a front, central portion of the wheelchair frame to a rear, central portion of the wheelchair frame such that the longitudinal axis extends along a forward/backward direction of travel of said wheelchair, said suspension assembly including: a linkage support structure associated with the wheelchair frames;at least two linkages extending upwardly and transversely outwardly from each of opposed left and right sides of said linkage support structure, each of the left and right side linkages being pivotably connected at a first end thereof to said linkage support structure in a configuration that enables the left and right side linkages to be independently pivotable with respect to one another, and wherein axes of rotation associated with the pivotable connection between the first ends of each of the left and right side linkages and the linkage support structure extend along or parallel to said longitudinal axis;a left and right wheel suspended substantially downwardly and perpendicularly from a respective left and right wheel support member, wherein a second end of each of said left side linkages is pivotably connected to said left wheel support member and a second end of each of said right side linkages is pivotably connected to said right wheel support member, and wherein at least one of said at least two linkages extending from each of the left and right hand sides of the linkage support structure is disposed vertically higher than a second of said at least two linkages such that when any one or both of the left and right wheels encounters a surface that causes relative vertical movement between the corresponding wheel support member and the linkage support structure, the corresponding wheel support member maintains an orientation in which the suspended wheel remains in said substantially downward and perpendicular suspension; anda means of self-leveling the suspended wheels after being vertically displaced relative to the linkage support structure such that when one or both of the wheels becomes vertically displaced, the means of self-levelling causes the wheel or wheels to return to an original position once allowed to do so.
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