US3820190A - Steerable assembly for wheelchairs and the like - Google Patents

Steerable assembly for wheelchairs and the like Download PDF

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Publication number
US3820190A
US3820190A US00255448A US25544872A US3820190A US 3820190 A US3820190 A US 3820190A US 00255448 A US00255448 A US 00255448A US 25544872 A US25544872 A US 25544872A US 3820190 A US3820190 A US 3820190A
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United States
Prior art keywords
crossbar
posts
actuating
assembly
actuating member
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00255448A
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English (en)
Inventor
F Moller
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Happe and Co
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Happe and Co
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Publication date
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Priority to US00255448A priority Critical patent/US3820190A/en
Priority to IT86253/73A priority patent/IT984883B/it
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
    • B60B33/00—Castors in general ; Anti-clogging castors
    • B60B33/02—Castors in general ; Anti-clogging castors with disengageable swivel action, i.e. comprising a swivel locking mechanism
    • B60B33/021—Castors in general ; Anti-clogging castors with disengageable swivel action, i.e. comprising a swivel locking mechanism combined with braking of castor wheel

Definitions

  • bifurcated springs can be deflected in opposite directions to engage the post and the roller periphery to immobilize the support and the roller when an actuating member is swung from one position to another.
  • the actuating member forms a toggle with a crossbar member as it is displaced through a deadcenter position and has a pair of pins at its ends which engage, through slots in the posts, respective slides controlling the shafts which operate the bifurcated springs.
  • My present invention relates to steerable assemblies for wheelchairs, hospital beds, walking frames, convalescent, prosthetic and like appliances or apparatus in which a pair of swivelable or steerable wheels rest upon the floor. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in a manually actuated mechanism for arresting the steerable wheels in such devices.
  • movable beds such as hospital beds and convalescent beds, walking frames and like medical appliances and other apparatus or devices adapted to roll along the ground
  • Such additional assemblies of this type may be provided and a single assembly of two casters may be used with other propel-.
  • steerable is used herein to refer to a roller arrangement which can be displaced angularly about an upright axis when the assembly movement suffers a direction change. It is not necessary within this definition to provide means for, individually swinging each roller about the upright axis and the steering movement may be a result of entrainment of the assembly by the remainder of the structure in a wheelchair or the like in which the main wheels may be operated manually or automatically and steering accomplished by varying the rates and/or sense of rotation of the main wheels.
  • each caster arrangement is swingable about an upright axis and ,carries a roller which is journaled about a generally horizontal axis, the arresting means should immobilize both the caster support and the roller.
  • the casters may be disposed at the feet of respective posts or legs which areinterconnected by a crossbar arrangement.
  • a conventional actuating system for an appliance of this type makes use of a handle controlling the arresting means and operating a member extending through the crossbar.
  • This system has the disadvantage that additional means must be provided to retain the handle in its locking and unlocking position.
  • mounting the crossbar and the actuating system contained therein is difficult and expensive and the system has been found to fail frequently in practice as a result of jamming within the crossbar.
  • the arrangement of the actuating mechanism at least in part within the crossbar interconnecting the two posts results in excessive wear of the moving parts.
  • a steerable assembly comprising a pair of transversely interconnected tubular posts, each of which comprises a respective vertically shiftable shaft operating an arresting mechanism within the caster support to lock the latter against rotation about the respective upright axis and to lock the associated roller against rotation.
  • a crossbar interconnects the posts and cooperates with the actuating member which also transversely bridges them but is located externally of the crossbar.
  • the posts are provided with respective vertically extending slots through which pins of the actuating member may pass to act upon the respective shafts, the latter being biased by springs within the posts such that the srpings also act to hold the actuating member against the crossbar in a toggle joint when the actuating member is shifted past a dead-center position to displace the pins.
  • the actuating member is angularly displaceable about an axis transverse to the upright axes of the posts between two positions with different spacings of the transverse axis from the crossbar member.
  • One of the members generally the actuating member or a part thereof is displaceable relative to the other member (usually the crossbar member) along the posts to actuate the pins, shafts and arresting devices as described.
  • the actuating member in all cases, however, operates toggle-fashion for self-locking or movement into a position in which the spring acts against selfdisplacement of the actuating member in one position of the arresting mechanism.
  • the toggle arrangement may make use of a bent-lever construction of the actuating member.
  • the resulting arresting mechanism for the steerable assembly is particularly suitable for use with the steerable wheels of a wheelchair since it allows handles on the actuating member to extend from either end thereof, i.e. on opposite sides of the wheelchair.
  • the assembly is light, requires little room and can be exposed to considerable stress without damage. Since the toggle system uses the interfltting or interengaging relationship of a fixed crossbar with a swingable actuating bar, no complicated indexing arrangement is required and operation of the device is particularly simple.
  • an arscribed provides a connecting member externally of the crossbar interconnecting the posts and havinga pair of slide bodies therewithin which are actuated by pins extending through slots of the posts, the slots running in the vertical direction or parallel to the vertical axes of the posts.
  • the actuating member is swung about an axis, which may correspond to the. axis of the crossbar ormay be spaced therefrom, portions at the ends of the actuating bar, eccentrically carrying the pins, shift the latter axially of the posts to operate the arresting members.
  • the actuating member thus constitutes amechanism for translating angular displacement about a generally horizontalaxis into vertical displacement of the slide bodies along the vertical axis of the post,
  • the actuating member is shaped as a bent lever or toggle having at least a portion cradling the crossbar in the position of the actuating member in which it is to be retained.
  • the actuating bar may be provided with a pair of laterally projected handle portions which can be manipulated by a patient in the wheel chair on either side with ease.
  • the: handle portion may constitute the part of the actuating assembly forming the cradle with the actuating bar or may be separate from the cradle member when the latterconstitutes a toggle link of generally circular segmental configuration. Since the actuating bar connecting the two handle portions lies externally of the crossbar 'b etween'both legs of the wheelchair, i.e.
  • the crank may also be located below the crossbar whereupon the actuating member draws the slide against the force of the spring when: the actuating member shifted through the dead center position. in the orientation of the crank above the crossbantof course, the springmay' simply be relieved topermit it i to operate the braking element. resting mechanism for an assembly of the character dec According to a further feature of the invention, the.
  • handle portions may be interconnected by a bar located externallyof the crossbar as previously noted while the handle portions are rotatable about the axis of the crossbar thereon and carryinglink elements op erating the pins.
  • the link elements in this case; form the toggle arrangement.
  • the connectingbar-between the handle portions constitutes a sleeve coaxially surrounding the crossbar and rotatable thereon, the connecting bar being indirectly tied' to links as noted.
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along the line lV IV V r of FIG. 2;
  • FIGLS is a vertical section through an assembly according to another embodiment of the invention with the parts in their braking position;
  • FIG. 6' is a sectionof the assembly of FIG. 5 with the 7 parts in their released position;
  • FIG. 7 is a section taken along the line VlI Vllof FIG. 5; I
  • the actuating bar bridging the two posts is formed as a simple crank with offset end portions, the latter being constituted as side plates or linked the crank-- and carrying the pins'The slide body within eachpost pre'ferably'forms a seatfor'acompression-typecoil;
  • the crank or actuating member can then be located above the crossbar which may have a collar rotatably engaged by the actuating member to facilitate movement of the crank thereover.
  • FIG. 9 is a detail view of a portion of the latter assembly in the braking position of the parts
  • FIG; 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X X of FIG. 8;
  • FIG. 11 is a ,fragmental sectionof theactuating LY mechanism according to yet another embodimentof thev invention.
  • I FlGull is a section taken- "alongthe line: X111 ⁇ X]! M ems. 11.2
  • Each of the caster arrangements comprises a bifurcated caster support or fork 7, the arms 7a and 7b of which receive the rubber-tire wheel 6 between them.
  • the wheel 6, also referred as a roller, is journaled on an axle 6 between the arms 7a and 7b of the fork as is customarily the case.
  • the individual caster arrangements 4 comprise two sets of ball bearings 8 and 9 flanking and inwardly extending flange 7c of the fork and disposed on top and on the bottom of the latter.
  • the upper bearing cage 11a is carried by a guide sleeve 11.
  • the lower cage 11b forms an apron on this sleeve and is also formed along its outwardly turned underside with a series of teeth or recesses 20.
  • a nonrotatable and axially fixed guide sleeve 11 is provided in each of the posts 1 and 2 and is formed with a boss 110 having a shoulder lld upon which the tubular hollow post rests.
  • a screw 10 inserted through the wall of the post locks the respective sleeves in place. The screw 10 thus limits the angular displacement of the sleeve 11 with respect to the post and prevents the post from being lifted from the sleeve in the axial direction.
  • each sleeve receives an actuating shaft l3 forming part of the actuating element for the arresting mechanism.
  • the shaft or pin 13 engages one arm of a Z-shaped bent plate 14 whose other arm or shank I4 is received between the free end of a bifurcated leaf spring l5, l6 anchored to the fork 7 between the arms of the latter by a pin 19 via a pair of substantially U-shaped arms of a bent member 18, the latter holding the leaf spring and the plate 14 against lateral movement.
  • the leaf spring comprises an upper leaf 16 whose upwardly bent plank 16' engages the teeth to prevent rotation of the fork 7 relative to the sleeve 11 and thus with respect to the post.
  • the lower leaf 17 has a shoe portion l7 adapted to frictionally engage the periphery of the wheel or roller 6 thus, as the plate 14 is swung in the counter-clockwise sense on the pin 19, it spreads the leaves of the leaf spring apart to arrest the fork and the roller.
  • the leaves of the leaf spring are riveted at their other end 15.
  • the assembly l4, 18, 19 is located below the downwardly concave plate 21 forming the member 11b.
  • the shaft 13 is vertically shiftable in the post and, as represented in FIG. 4, is connected to a piston-like slide body 22 urged downwardly by a coil spring 23 seated against this slide.
  • the spring 23 is seated upon a plate 24 anchored in the post by inwardly bent rib 1a.
  • the slide 22 is provided with a transverse bore 22' receiving the crank pin 25 traversing a vertically extending slot 26 above the crossbar 3.
  • the pins 25 are carried by the side plates or cheeks 27 of an actuating means represented generally at 29 and forming a crank.
  • the side plates 27 are joined together-by a tubular connecting bar 28 bridging the posts 1 and 2 and located wholly externally of the crossbar 3. It will be evident also that two such plates 27 and pins 25 are provided for the simultaneous actuation of the arresting mechanism of both casters.
  • the connecting bar 28 is provided at its opposite end with a pair of handles 29 which, as shown in FIG. I, lead forwardly and laterally outwardly for easy manipulation by the patient.
  • the bar 28 rides a pair of lowfriction rings 30, e.g. of polytetrafluoroethylene, which may be'rotatable or fixed on the crossbar 3 at the ends thereof.
  • each of the posts is formed with a horizontal stub 3" onto which the tube 3 is pressfitted, the latter carrying the rings 30.
  • the handles 29' extend radially from the crossbar 28 which actuates the rings 30 so that in one operating position the bar 28 and the handle 29 engage rings 30 at locations A and B located on an opposite side of a plane P extending through the axis of the pins 25 and the rings 30.
  • member 28 forms a simple crank with a 'deadcenter position defined by the plane P through which the axis of the bar 28 may be swung.
  • the actuating assemblies 28, 29 cradle the ring 30 at each end of the crossbar 3 and the clutch formed by the handle portions.
  • the axis of angular displacement of the actuating member coincides with the axis of the pins. Since the spring 23 urges the pin 25 downwardly, the actuating member is held in place against self or accidental displacement.
  • the shaft 13 is urged downwardly, thereby canting the Z-shaped plate in the counterclockwise sense and twisting the shank 14 of this plate between the leaf springs 16 and 17.
  • the leaf spring 16 is urged upwardly and engages the teeth 20 to prevent rotation of theforce 7 whereas the leaf spring 17 is urged against the periphery of the wheel 6 to prevent rotation of the latter.
  • an abutment bolt 31 is thread into the slide body 22 and extends between the spring seat 24 to have a head 31 at its free end.
  • the bolt 31 is screwed into the slide body 22 to the extent necessary to maintain the transverse bar 22 always within the opening defined by the slot 26. This also limits the stroke of the spring 23 and prevents undue stress upon the leaf springs 16 and 17.
  • the pins 25 can then be inserted into the bores 22' without difficulty and without requiring preassembly of the caster arrangement 4.
  • FIGS. 5 7, l have shown another embodiment of the invention wherein the spring 32 acts as a brakerelease spring, i.e. urges the shaft 113 upwardly.
  • the coil spring 32 is seated at its lower end against the guide sleeve 111 and bears, at its upper end, against the slide body 122.
  • the shaft 113 is here threaded into the slide body 122 to limit the stroke of the spring 32 and maintain the transverse bore of the slide body in alignement with the slide 126.
  • FIGS. 8 l illustrate another embodiment of the incrossbar 103 and its rings 130 in the crotch from below in a kenematic reversal of the system shown in FIGS.
  • the connecting bar 128 maybe provided with a furtherabutment29' handles of the ends thereof may be employed. It will be used equally well with a system in whichtlie spring opwhich may be an extension of the actuating'arm 129 and can engage the ring 130 from below at the location C..Thecontact with the bar 128 at location D and of i the abutment 29 at the location C, inthe form of a further cradle. retains the actuating armin its unlocked position as'illustrated in FlG. 6. As indicated in'broken '7 lines in FIG. 6, moreover, the handle 129 may be pro vided on the opposite side of the bar 128 for the convevention in which nondescribed portions.
  • the connecting bar 228: of the actuating mechanism here bridges a pair of levers: 33 mounted on respective rings 30 at opposite ends of the crossbar 3.
  • a hinge or articulation, 35 eccentrically connects each lever 33 to a link 34 of semicircular con figuration, the links 34 carrying the pins 225 which traverse the slots 226 and engage the slide 222 as previously described.Adead-center position is'defined by the plane P between the axis of the crossbar 3 and the axis of pins 225.
  • the links 34 are semicircular segments adapted to rest against the crossbar 3 and cradle the latter as shown in broken lines in FIG. 8. Sincefthe force of spring 223 urges the pin 225 downwardly and the links 34 entrain the pivots 35 similarly, with the axis, E of the pins located to the letft of the plane R (dead center position), the actuating system is in a selfblocking condition. In this position,as in FIGQZ, the
  • FIGS. 11 and l2 are. of course. generally similarto that of FIGS. 8-'- 10except that the connecting bar 228 is replaced by a sleeve 328'which bridges the two handle portions 13.3,whoselinks 13 engage the pins 325 as previously described.
  • the sleeve 328 is a pipe coaxial with the tube3.
  • the pipe 328 is rigidwith respect to torsion stresses so that either of the tratedin.
  • FIGS. 1 4.In this embodiment5theshafts'2l3' understood that the systems of FIGS. 8 12 can 'be erates to release the brake as described in connection with FIGS; 5 7.
  • a steerable assembly comprisingiarpair of upright I transversely interconnected posts;
  • respective caster supports mounted on said posts for rotation about respective upright axes;
  • V respective rollers journaled on said supports androllingly carrying the assembly;
  • an actuatingmember bridgingsaid posts externally of said crossbar member, said actuating member being pivotally connected to said element for angular displacement with respect to anaxis transverse g V to said upright axes between two positions with different spacings of said transverse axis from said crossbar member, said actuating member engaging I said crossbar membertoggle-fashion against self displacement in one of said positions, one of said members being shiftable along said posts generally in the direction of said upright axis;
  • said actuating member has the configuration of a crankshaft 'lyingbetween said posts andcomprises a'tran'sverse bar parallel to said crossbar member anda. pair of eccentric g links fixed to the ends of said transversebar and provided with said pins said transverse bar being -swingable between saidpositionsthrough adead-center position wherein the axis of said transverse bar, saidtrans f each of said posts, at least one brake element below eachsh'aft andengageable thereby for retaining the re-' spective support. and. roller against. mo ement, spring means in each post actingupon the respective shafts and urgingsaid actuating member into selfretaining engagement with said crossbar member in said one of said positions: r
  • said actuating member comprises handle means rotatably mounted on said crossbar member, and link means articulated to said handle means and engageablewith said elements.
  • link means comprises a pair of generally segmental links at opposite ends of said crossbar member.
  • said handle means includes a sleeve surrounding said crossbar member and rotatable thereon.
  • a steerable assembly for a wheelchair comprising a pair of upright transversely interconnected posts;
  • an actuating member bridging said posts externally of said crossbar member, said actuating member being angularly displaceable with respect to an axis transverse to said upright axes between two positions with different spacings of said transverse axis from said crossbar member, said actuating member engaging said crossbar member toggle-fashion against selfdisplacement in one of said positions, one of said members being shiftable along said posts generally in the direction of said upright axis;
  • said actuating member being provided with at least one handle and forming therewith a bent lever
  • said posts being provided with respective slots parallel to the respective upright axes
  • said means connecting said one of said members with said elements including respective pins coupled with said actuating member and extending through said slots
  • said actuating member having the configuration of a crankshaft lying between said posts and comprising a transverse bar parallel to said crossbar member and a pair of eccentric links fixed to the ends of said transverse bar and provided with said pins, said transverse bar being swingable between said positions through a deadcenter position wherein the axis of said transverse bar, said transverse axis and said crossbar member are substantially coplanar
  • said posts being tubular, further comprising a guide sleeve mounted in each of the tubular posts and anchored therein against rotation, said shafts each extending
  • a steerable assembly comprising a pair of upright transversely interconnected posts
  • an actuating member bridging said posts externally of said crossbar member, said actuating member being'angularly displaceable with respect to an axis transverse to said upright axes between two positions with different spacings of said transverse axis from said crossbar member, said actuating member engaging said crossbar member toggle-fashion against selfdisplacement in one of said positions, one of said members being shiftable along said posts generally in the direction of said upright axis;
  • said actuating member comprising handle means rotatably mounted on said crossbar member, and link means articulated to said handle means and engageable with said elements, said link means being articulated to said handle means along said transverse axis and being connected to said elements by a pair of pins defining a further axis, said handle means being swingable between said position through a dead-center position wherein said further axis and said transverse axis are coplanar with said crossbar member, said posts being tubular, and a guide sleeve mounted in each of the tubular posts and anchored therein against rotation,
  • said shafts each extending slidably and nonrotata-' bly through the respective sleeve, said spring a seat for said coil compression spring, said pins exblocks, said supports each being provided with an inwardly extending flange connected rotatably to 7 means being formed'as a coil compressionspring, said shaft being provided with a slide block'forming,

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US00255448A 1972-05-22 1972-05-22 Steerable assembly for wheelchairs and the like Expired - Lifetime US3820190A (en)

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US00255448A US3820190A (en) 1972-05-22 1972-05-22 Steerable assembly for wheelchairs and the like
IT86253/73A IT984883B (it) 1972-05-22 1973-05-16 Macchina utensile con meccanismo di cambio di utensili

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Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2523043A1 (fr) * 1982-03-15 1983-09-16 Fassbender Hufa Rollen Dispositif de support de roulette notamment pour chariot de manutention
US6286630B1 (en) * 2000-05-19 2001-09-11 Christopher M. Obergfell Shopping cart brake assembly
US20040074680A1 (en) * 2002-08-29 2004-04-22 Thomas Brendel Wheelchair with castors
US20040083562A1 (en) * 2002-07-17 2004-05-06 Leblanc Kim Andrew Collapsible loading ramp
US20050103569A1 (en) * 2003-11-13 2005-05-19 Steven Winter Expandable scaffold with wheel lock
US9603764B2 (en) 2014-02-11 2017-03-28 Medline Industries, Inc. Method and apparatus for a locking caster

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2523043A1 (fr) * 1982-03-15 1983-09-16 Fassbender Hufa Rollen Dispositif de support de roulette notamment pour chariot de manutention
US6286630B1 (en) * 2000-05-19 2001-09-11 Christopher M. Obergfell Shopping cart brake assembly
US20040083562A1 (en) * 2002-07-17 2004-05-06 Leblanc Kim Andrew Collapsible loading ramp
US7013518B2 (en) * 2002-07-17 2006-03-21 Kim Andrew Leblanc Collapsible loading ramp
US20040074680A1 (en) * 2002-08-29 2004-04-22 Thomas Brendel Wheelchair with castors
US20050103569A1 (en) * 2003-11-13 2005-05-19 Steven Winter Expandable scaffold with wheel lock
US9603764B2 (en) 2014-02-11 2017-03-28 Medline Industries, Inc. Method and apparatus for a locking caster
US9993378B2 (en) 2014-02-11 2018-06-12 Medline Industries, Inc. Method and apparatus for a locking caster

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IT984883B (it) 1974-11-20

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