James F Mulhern, 83Pittston, PA

6474689, Nov 5, 2002

Jan 2, 2001

09/752591

James P. Mulhern - Hunlock Creek PA
Jason Julius Rasmus - Tunkhannock PA

Pride Mobility Products Corporation - Exeter PA

B62D 114

280775, 280 47371, 280211

A motorized scooter is disclosed that comprises a steering shaft mounted for rotation about its axis. A tiller is connected to said steering shaft to rotate said steering shaft, and pivotable relative to said steering shaft. A pivot block is mounted on the free end of said steering shaft, a pair of forks on said tiller straddle the pivot block, and a pivot pin passes through the forks and the pivot block. The pivot block has a pair of lubricating plates of low-friction material on either side of it, so that the forks rest on said lubricating plates to tacilitate pivoting of said steering column. A strut of variable length is connected to the tiller and to said steering shaft so that pivoting of the tiller requires a change in the length of said strut. The strut comprises an inner shaft and an outer sleeve movable along said shaft to vary the length of said strut. Two helical coil springs that in a relaxed condition have an inside diameter smaller than the shalt grip the shaft frictionally to resist movement along the shaft.

6640916, Nov 4, 2003

Jan 29, 2001

09/772133

Walter E. Schaffner - Shavertown PA
James P. Mulhern - Hunlock Creek PA
Stephen J. Antonishak - Alden PA

Pride Mobility Products, Corporation - Exeter PA

B60K 100

180 651, 180907

A mid-wheel drive power wheelchair is provide having a pair of drive wheels on the support frame below the seat. Castor wheels are positioned behind the drive wheels and rearward of the seat. A pair of anti-tip idler wheels are positioned forward of the drive wheels on opposite sides of the frame. The anti-tip wheels are normally positioned off the ground when the drive wheels and the castor wheels are in their normal ground-engaging position. The anti-tip wheels have a resilient mounting comprising a support arm attached at a rear end to the frame. The forward positioned anti-tip wheels are movable upwardly about the attachment of the support arm, with the suspension resiliently resisting such movement, in response to the engagement with a curb or obstruction or in response to a forward pitching of the chair about the drive wheels.

6776430, Aug 17, 2004

Sep 9, 2002

10/238001

Gerald J. White - Hunlock Creek PA
James P. Mulhern - Hunlock Creek PA
Ronald J. Levi - Courtdale PA

Pride Mobility Products Corporation - Pittston PA

B62M 114

2803041, 2802501, 280755, 180907, 297310

A stabilizing system for a reclinable wheelchair connects anti-tip members to the wheelchair seat such that pivoting of the seat causes pivoting of the anti-tip members. In one embodiment, the stabilizing system includes cables connected at opposite ends to the seat and to the anti-tip members. The cables may be connected to the seat bottom or, alternately, to the seat back. The anti-tip members may incorporate a pivoting suspension member that includes a drive motor for the wheelchair. Pivot control mechanisms connected to the cables can be used to permit a predetermined amount of seat pivot without corresponding pivot of the anti-tip members. The stabilizing system alternatively includes axially compressible link members connecting the seat back to the anti-tip members to provide controlled pivoting of the anti-tip members based on pivoting of the seat.

6796568, Sep 28, 2004

Aug 19, 2002

10/223645

Charles J. Martis - Wyoming PA
Mark E. Smith - Exeter PA
James P. Mulhern - Hunlock Creek PA

Pride Mobility Products Corporation - West Pittston PA

B60G 308

280124111, 2803041, 280755, 180932, 180907, 267152

A suspension system for mounting a pair of wheels to a wheelchair is disclosed. The system includes a crossbar pivotally mounted to the wheelchair so as to pivot about a longitudinal axis. At least one spring assembly is located between the crossbar and the wheelchair frame for controlling the pivoting of the crossbar. A hinge assembly is mounted on each lateral end of the crossbar. The hinge assembly includes a first hinge component attached to the crossbar so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis, and a second hinge component resiliently connected to the first hinge component. The resilient connection biases the second hinge connection against rotation with respect to the first hinge component. A wheel and yoke assembly are mounted to the second hinge component.

6923278, Aug 2, 2005

May 6, 2002

10/139191

James P. Mulhern - Hunlock Creek PA, US
Ronald J. Levi - Courtdale PA, US

Pride Mobility Products Corporation - Exeter PA

B62D061/12

180 651, 180907, 180209, 2803041, 2802501

A power wheelchair with front anti-tip wheels for substantially eliminating partial tips of the wheelchair is described. The anti-tip wheels are attached to the end of an extension arm which is attached to the frame of the wheelchair. A spring connects the anti-tip wheels with the frame at a second point. The spring tends to hold the anti-tip wheels in a neutral position at a predetermined height above the ground. A lowering mechanism is provided which positions the anti-tip wheels in a position engaged with or just above the ground. A retaining system holds the anti-tip wheels on or near the ground until the user or a release trigger device releases the retaining system, at which time the anti-tip wheels return to the neutral position. While the retaining system is disengaged, the wheels are free to rise in response to an upward force in order to climb over an obstacle in the wheelchair's path of travel.

6938923, Sep 6, 2005

Apr 30, 2002

10/136763

James P. Mulhern - Hunlock Creek PA, US
Mark E. Smith - Exeter PA, US
Charles J. Martis - Wyoming PA, US

Pride Mobility Products Corporation - Exeter PA

B60K001/00

280755, 2802501, 180 651, 180907

A curb-climbing rear wheel drive power wheelchair is disclosed having a pair of drive wheels, at least one ground-engaging idler wheel connected to the frame forward of the drive wheels and at least one anti-tip wheel mounted above ground aft of the drive wheels. The drive wheels and anti-tip wheels are mounted on common suspension arms, pivoted to the frame of the wheelchair behind the drive wheels and resiliently suspended, so that the anti-tip wheels move up and down in response to movements of the drive wheel suspension.

7219924, May 22, 2007

Jul 2, 2003

10/613669

James P. Mulhern - Hunlock Creek PA, US
Charles J. Martis - Wyoming PA, US
Kip D. Alder - West Pittston PA, US

Pride Mobility Products Corporation - West Pittston PA

B60K 1/00

280755, 2802501, 2803041, 180907, 180 655, 297DIG 4, 297DIG 10

A curb-climbing rear wheel drive power wheelchair is disclosed having a pair of drive wheels, at least one ground-engaging idler wheel connected to the frame forward of the drive wheels and at least one ground-contacting anti-tip caster wheel mounted to the wheelchair aft of the drive wheels. The drive wheels and anti-tip caster wheels are mounted on common suspension arms, pivoted to the frame of the wheelchair behind the drive wheels and resiliently suspended, so that the anti-tip caster wheels move up and down in response to movements of the drive wheel suspension.

7232008, Jun 19, 2007

Sep 17, 2004

10/943713

Ronald Levi - Courtdale PA, US
James P. Mulhern - Nanticoke PA, US

Pride Mobility Products Corporation - Exeter PA

B62B 1/00

180907, 2807631, 280767

An anti-tip system is provided for stabilizing a vehicle, such as a power wheelchair, about a pitch axis and relative to a ground plane. The anti-tip system includes at least one anti-tip wheel. The mounting assembly for the anti-tip wheel is configured such that it traverses linearly in a direction toward or away from the ground plane and is responsive to an acceleration or deceleration of the wheelchair. As the wheelchair accelerates or decelerates, rotational motion of the drive train assembly is transmitted to a guide subassembly within the mounting to effect translation of the anti-tip wheel. Upward translation of the anti-tip wheel enables the wheelchair to negotiate obstacles, e. g. , curbs or steps, while downward translation or force enhances stability when stopping the wheelchair or while moving down sloping terrain or surfaces. The anti-tip wheels may be castors and normally contacting the ground during operation.