A wheel comprises a rim, a hub and a suspension unit. The wheel incorporates or is connectable to a torque source capable of producing torques up to a maximal torque for rotating the wheel around a rotation-axis. In this invention, the suspension unit includes at least one structural member, provided at least partially between the rim and the hub, configured to change in size and/or shape, relative to a nominal size and/or shape thereof, during displacements and/or rotations of the hub relative to a center point of the rim. The suspension unit also includes at least one motion resisting component adapted to retain the structural member at the nominal size and/or shape thereof under torques smaller than the maximal torque.

Wheeled vehicles, such as wheelchairs, that are adapted to traverse obstacles are provided. The wheeled vehicles include a frame, drive wheels, front anti-tip wheels positioned in front of the drive wheels and rear anti-tip wheels positioned behind the drive wheels. One exemplary vehicle includes front anti-tip wheels supported by rigid arms that are fixed to the frame and drive assemblies that are independently suspended from the frame. Another exemplary vehicle includes a linkage that links the front and rear anti-tip wheels, such that movement of one of the front or rear anti-tip wheel relative to the frame causes movement of the other wheel relative to the frame.

This invention provides a wheelchair with four-wheel independent suspension and modular seating, allowing for customized seat selection and a variable ride. It includes a chair assembly, a chassis assembly and a suspension assembly. The chair assembly includes a seat; a seat mount; a seat angle adjuster; and a pillar. The chassis assembly includes a chassis; and a handle assembly. The suspension assembly incudes a forward suspension assembly and a rear suspension assembly. In another embodiment, the wheelchair includes a chair assembly with handles, a main cross beam and a suspension spring assembly.

A mobility vehicle may comprise a frame, a first pivot arm, a second pivot arm, and a suspension assembly. The first pivot arm may be coupled to the frame and coupled to a drive wheel. The second pivot arm may be coupled to the frame and coupled to a ground engaging caster wheel. The suspension assembly may be coupled to the frame. The suspension assembly may include a first spring assembly and a second spring assembly. The first spring assembly may be disposed about a first spring axis and coupled to the first pivot arm. The second spring assembly may be disposed about a second spring axis and coupled to the second pivot arm. The first spring axis and the second spring axis may be disposed relative to each other at an angle of no greater than about 150? when the mobility vehicle is operating on horizontal ground.

A vehicle includes a vehicle body frame, a vehicle body tilt sensor, a drive unit, and a seat. The vehicle body tilt sensor is provided at the vehicle body frame and detects a tilt angle of the vehicle body frame. The drive unit is coupled to the vehicle body frame and moves the vehicle body frame by inverted pendulum control based on the tilt angle detected by the vehicle body tilt sensor. The seat includes a seat body and a leg part. The seat is capable of being raised and lowered between a low position at which the leg part is in contact with a floor surface and a high position at which the leg part separates from the floor surface, and the seat is elastically coupled to the vehicle body frame. A seat tilt sensor which detects a tilt angle of the seat is provided at the seat.

This invention provides a wheelchair with four wheel independent suspension and modular seating, allowing for customized seat selection and a variable ride. It includes a chair assembly, a chassis assembly and a suspension assembly. The chair assembly includes a seat; a seat mount; a seat angle adjuster; and a pillar. The chassis assembly includes a chassis; and a handle assembly. The suspension assembly includes a forward suspension assembly and a rear suspension assembly. In another embodiment, the wheelchair includes a chair assembly with handles, a main cross beam and a suspension spring assembly.

A wheelchair suspension comprises a frame, at least one pivot arm, at least one front caster, at least one rear caster, a stabilizing system, and a sensor. The pivot arm is coupled to the frame. The front caster is coupled to the pivot arm. The rear caster is coupled to the frame. The stabilizing system is coupled to the frame and the pivot arm. The sensor is arranged such that tipping of the frame causes actuation of the stabilizing system to at least partially resist further movement of the frame.

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).

Embodiments of a suspension for a vehicle is provided. The suspension includes, for example, a frame and a locking assembly. The locking assembly inhibits tipping of a frame of the vehicle when tipping of the frame is detected.

A wheelchair suspension is provided. The wheelchair suspension includes a frame, a front caster pivot arm, a drive assembly, and a rear caster. The front caster pivot arm is pivotally connected to the frame. The front caster is coupled to a front end of the front caster pivot arm. The drive assembly is pivotally connected to the front caster pivot arm. The drive assembly comprises a drive wheel and a motor that drives the drive wheel. Torquing of the drive wheel by the motor in a forward direction causes the drive assembly to pivot with respect to the front caster pivot arm such that the drive wheel moves forward toward the front caster and a distance between a support surface and the connection between of the drive assembly and the front caster pivot arm increases.