Embodiments of the present disclosure include a wheelchair configured to reposition an occupant between a lowered and a raised position. The wheelchair can include a frame, a seat moveable relative to the frame, a drive wheel, and one or more pairs of arm assemblies. The arm assembly includes a wheel configured to move from a first spatial location when the wheel chair is operating on flat, level ground to a second spatial location that is different than the first spatial location. Arm limiters that can selectively engage the arm assembly dependent on the position of the arm assembly and surface conditions of ground and can limit the range of motion of the arm assembly and sometimes other operational aspects of the chair.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a wheelchair configured to reposition an occupant between a lowered and a raised position. The wheelchair can include a frame, a seat moveable relative to the frame, a drive wheel, and one or more pairs of arm assemblies. The arm assembly includes a wheel configured to move from a first spatial location when the wheel chair is operating on flat, level ground to a second spatial location that is different than the first spatial location. Arm limiters can selectively engage the arm assembly based on at least one of a seat position, position of the arm assembly and surface conditions of ground surface. The arm limiters can limit the range of motion of the arm assembly and sometimes other operational aspects of the chair.

The present disclosure relates to a swing arm assembly (1) for a mid-wheel drive wheelchair (21), comprising: a front swing arm (3) having a front swing arm pivot point (3a), a drive assembly swing arm (5) having a drive assembly swing arm pivot point (5a) and a resilient member first mounting point (5b), a rear swing arm (7) having a rear swing arm pivot point (7a) and a resilient member second mounting point (7b), and a resilient member (9) configured to be connected to the resilient member first mounting point (5a) and to the resilient member second mounting point (7a) to enable force transfer between the drive assembly swing arm (5) and the rear swing arm (7).

A motorized wheelchair chassis includes a frame assembly having a first frame element that supports first and second caster wheels at an end of the first frame element. The first frame element is designed to support a seat assembly, a battery support assembly secured to an underside of the frame assembly, at least one battery, first and second power drive assemblies disposed on lateral sides of the battery support assembly, and first and second drive wheels driven by the first and second power drive assemblies, respectively. The frame assembly further comprises a second frame element that is secured to the battery support assembly. The first frame element is supported onto the second frame element via a coupling structure comprising a ball-joint bearing permitting relative movement of the first frame element with respect to the second frame element in more than two degrees of freedom within a limited range of movement.

A wheelchair suspension includes a frame, a drive assembly pivot arm, a drive assembly, a front caster pivot arm, a front caster, and a spring and shock absorbing assembly. The drive assembly pivot arm is pivotally connected to the frame. The drive assembly includes a drive wheel and is mounted to the drive assembly pivot arm. The front caster pivot arm is pivotally mounted to the frame and coupled to the drive assembly pivot arm. The front caster is coupled to the at least one front caster pivot arm. The spring and shock absorbing assembly is pivotally connected to the drive assembly pivot arm at a first pivotal connection and pivotally connected to the front caster pivot arm at a second pivotal connection. The first and second pivotal connections are positioned such that a majority of the force applied by the spring and shock absorbing assembly is applied to the drive wheel when the suspension is on a flat, horizontal support surface.

Embodiments of a wheelchair and suspension system are provided. In one embodiment, a wheelchair or other vehicle having a wheel assembly is provided. The assembly includes, for example, a housing, a resilient member between two sleeves or casings, and a wheel support connected to a wheel. The resilient member compresses when there is an impact on the wheel and decompresses after the impact. In another embodiment, a wheelchair or other vehicle having a multi-purpose suspension system is provided. In one instance, the system provides suspension between to the main drive wheels and the frame. In a second instance, the system provides suspension between the anti-tip wheels and the frame.

A vehicle includes a seat on which a passenger is to be seated, a rear suspension to support rear wheels, and a drive source to drive the rear wheels. Pivots of the rear suspension are located forward relative to a rotation shaft of the rear wheels. A relationship WB/Dw2.5 is satisfied, where WB is a wheelbase of the vehicle, and Dw is an outer diameter of the rear wheels. A relationship 3.0Hs/Hp is satisfied, where Hp is a height from a level road surface to the pivots, and Hs is a distance in an up-down direction between an upper end portion of a front portion of the seat and a line of action where a reaction of a driving force that the rear wheels receive from the road surface acts on the pivots.

An embodiment can include a suspension system for a powered wheelchair, the suspension system comprising an arm and an air suspension subsystem. The air suspension subsystem in this embodiment can comprise a coil spring and an air bag surrounded by the coil spring. The arm in this embodiment can be configured to (a) couple a drive axle to a frame of the powered wheelchair and (b) move the drive axle relative to the frame. In this embodiment, a first end of the drive axle can be coupled to a wheel of the powered wheelchair, while the frame is closer to a second end of the drive axle than the first end, and the first end of the drive axle is opposite the second end of the drive axle. A first end of the air suspension subsystem in this embodiment can be coupled to the frame when a second end of the air suspension subsystem is coupled to the arm and the second end of the air suspension subsystem is opposite the first end of the air suspension subsystem. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A modular power base for a wheelchair, the modular power base includes a leg module. The leg module includes an upper leg portion comprising a distal end and a proximal end. The proximal end is configured to be detachably and rotatably coupled to a seat portion of the wheelchair. The leg module also includes a lower leg portion having a first end and a second end, the first end of the lower leg portion being rotatably coupled to the distal end of the upper leg portion. The leg module also includes a first wheel rotatably coupled to the distal end of the upper leg portion and to the first end of the lower leg portion and a second wheel rotatably coupled to the second end of the lower leg portion.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a wheelchair configured to reposition an occupant between a lowered and a raised position. The wheelchair can include a frame, a seat moveable relative to the frame, a drive wheel, and one or more pairs of arm assemblies. The arm assembly includes a wheel configured to move from a first spatial location when the wheel chair is operating on flat, level ground to a second spatial location that is different than the first spatial location. Arm limiters can selectively engage the arm assembly based on at least one of a seat position, position of the arm assembly and surface conditions of ground surface. The arm limiters can limit the range of motion of the arm assembly and sometimes other operational aspects of the chair.