Patent ID: 8408598
Filing Date: 2013-04-02
Classification: A61G,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A wheelchair comprising: a frame; a pair of drive wheels defining a drive wheel axis; a drive assembly operatively coupled to at least one drive wheel of the pair of drive wheels, the drive assembly configured to rotate the at least one drive wheel about the drive wheel axis to thereby cause the wheelchair to move relative to a surface that defines a ground plane; an arm pivotably mounted to the frame at an arm pivot axis; and a caster wheel coupled to the arm, the caster wheel defining a rotational axis about which the caster wheel rotates, wherein the vertical position of the arm pivot axis with respect to the ground plane when the caster wheel and the drive wheel are in contact with the surface is spaced from and positioned relatively below a straight line drawn between the drive wheel axis and the rotational axis of the caster wheel, and wherein the arm is operatively coupled to the drive assembly such that the arm is configured to pivot about the arm pivot axis in response to torque created by rotation of the at least one drive wheel by the drive assembly so as to cause a responsive vertical movement of the caster wheel.