1. A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) assembly comprising:
an LCD;
a support member pivotably engaging with the LCD so that the LCD is rotatable relative to the support member about a first axis;
a sliding member pivotably engaging with the support member so as to be rotatable relative to the support member about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis; and
a bracket receiving the sliding member, wherein the sliding member is slidable in the bracket.
2. The LCD assembly of claim 1, wherein first and second hooks are located on the LCD; first and second blocking tabs extend from the support member; and the LCD is rotatable between a first position in which the first hook engages the first blocking tab and a second position in which the second hook engages the second blocking tab.
3. The LCD assembly of claim 1, wherein a connecting member pivotably connects the support member with the sliding member so that the support member is rotatable relative to the sliding member about the second axis.
4. The LCD assembly of claim 3, wherein the sliding member defines a locking hole for receiving the connecting member; the connecting member defines a securing slot therein; the securing slot is positioned in the sliding member when secured to the support member; and a securing member is secured in the securing slot to prevent the connecting member from dislodging from the locking hole of the support member.
5. The LCD assembly of claim 3, wherein the support member defines a cutout therein; a post is formed on the sliding member; and the supporting member is rotatable to engage the post.
6. The LCD assembly of claim 3, wherein the support member defines a locating hole for receiving the connecting member; the connecting member defines a first securing slot therein; the first securing slot is positioned in the support member when the connecting member is secured to the support member; a first securing member is secured in the first securing slot to prevent the connecting member from dislodging from the locating hole of the support member.
7. The LCD assembly of claim 3, wherein a first spring is disposed about the connecting member between the support member and the sliding member.
8. The LCD assembly of claim 1, wherein the bracket defines a sliding slot therein, and the sliding member forms a sliding tab that is slidable in the sliding slot.
9. The LCD assembly of claim 1, wherein a gear member is secured on the sliding member; and a rack located on the bracket meshes with the gear member.
10. The LCD assembly of claim 1, wherein a second spring is disposed between the bracket and the sliding member, and the sliding member is slidable relative to the bracket to resiliently deform the second spring.
11. An LCD assembly comprising:
an LCD;
a support member pivotally engaging with the LCD so that the LCD is rotatable relative to the LCD about a first axis;
a sliding member pivotably engaging with the support member so as to be rotatable relative to the support member about a second axis different from the first axis, a gear member being located on the sliding member; and
a bracket slidably engaging with the sliding member, a rack being located in the bracket to mesh with the gear member.
12. The LCD assembly of claim 11, wherein first and second hooks are formed on the LCD; first and second blocking tabs are formed on the support member; the LCD is rotatable between a first position, in which the first hook engages the first blocking tab, and a second position, in which the second hook engages the second blocking tab.
13. The LCD assembly of claim 11, wherein a connecting member pivotably connects the support member with the sliding member so that the support member is rotatable relative to the sliding member about the second axis.
14. The LCD assembly of claim 13, wherein the sliding member defines a locking hole for receiving the connecting member; the connecting member defines a first securing slot therein; the first securing slot is positioned in the sliding member when the connecting member is secured to the support member; a first securing member is secured in the first securing slot to prevent the connecting member from dislodging from the locking hole of the support member.
15. The LCD assembly of claim 13, wherein the support member defines a cutout therein; a post is formed on the sliding member; and the supporting member is rotatable to engage the post in the cutout of the sliding member.
16. The LCD assembly of claim 13, wherein the support member defines a locating hole for receiving the connecting member; the connecting member defines a second securing slot therein; the second securing slot is positioned in the support member when the connecting member is secured to the support member; a second securing member is secured in the second securing slot to prevent the connecting member from dislodging from the locating hole of the support member.
17. The LCD assembly of claim 13, wherein a first spring is disposed about the connecting member between the support member and the sliding member.
18. The LCD assembly of claim 11, wherein the bracket defines a sliding slot therein; the sliding member forms a sliding tab that is slidable in the sliding slot.
19. The LCD assembly of claim 11, wherein a second spring is disposed between the bracket and the sliding member, and the sliding member is slidable relative to the bracket to resiliently deform the second spring.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. Steering mechanism for directing a plurality of steered wheels of a vehicle with respect to a chassis, wherein each steered wheel is adapted to pivot with respect to said chassis, the steering mechanism comprising, for each steered wheel:
a first vertical axis about which the steered wheel pivots;
a first link comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is in co-operation with the steered wheel providing for a torque to be applied to the steered wheel to make the steered wheel pivot around said first vertical axis;
a first linear displacement axis defined by a rail, wherein the rail is pivotally connected to a cross-piece of said chassis to pivot about a second vertical axis, wherein said second end of said first link is mounted in a sliding fashion along the rail so that the second end of the first link can move relative to the rail, thereby allowing translational movement of the second end of said first link relative to said chassis.
2. The steering mechanism of claim 1, wherein rails are parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle when the plurality of steered wheels are straight.
3. The steering mechanism of claim 1, wherein the plurality of steered wheels include two steered wheels of a common axle and wherein both rails corresponding to the two steered wheels pivot about the same second vertical axis.
4. The steering mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a respective second link for at least one of the steered wheels for forcing the second end of the respective first link to move along the respective first linear displacement axis when the respective rail is pivoted, so as to reduce the amplitude of the pivoting of the at least one steered wheel when said wheel is an outside wheel in a turn.
5. The steering mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a second link for each steered wheel for forcing the second end of the respective first link to occupy a predefined position along the respective first linear displacement axis, said position being variable during turns.
6. The steering mechanism of claim 1, wherein for each steered wheel there is also provided:
a second link,
a third vertical axis, about which said second link can pivot with respect to said first link, and
a fourth vertical axis arranged, about which said second link can pivot with respect to the chassis.
7. The steering mechanism of claim 1, wherein said rails pivot in turns in the same direction as said steered wheels, the rotation angle of the rails being different from the rotation angle of the associated wheels.
8. The steering mechanism of claim 1, wherein the plurality of steered wheels comprise four steered wheels, each steered wheel being in co-operation with the respective first link and wherein said second end of said first link is mounted in a sliding fashion along the respective rail connected to said chassis.
9. The steering mechanism of claim 8, wherein the four steered wheels include two front wheels and two rear wheels, and wherein the steering mechanism further comprises a transmission rod arranged to transmit rotation between the front wheels and the rear wheels.
10. The steering mechanism of claim 9, wherein said transmission rod comprises a longitudinal bar of which one end is adapted to be attached to the rails of the two front wheels whilst the other end is adapted to be attached to the rails of the two rear wheels.
11. The steering mechanism of claim 9, said transmission rod being provided with a double bend, a central part of said transmission rod being arranged so as to move longitudinally when the orientation of the wheels changes.
12. The steering mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a suspension in operative association with each steered wheel, each of said suspensions comprising a lower part in contact with the respective steered wheel, wherein each respective first link is connected to the lower part of each of said suspensions in contact with the steered wheels.
13. The steering mechanism of claim 12, wherein the rail consists of a cylindrical shaft allowing said first link to rotate around the longitudinal axis of said shaft during movements of said suspension.
14. The steering mechanism of claim 1, including a linear actuator to pivot the steered wheels with respect to said chassis.
15. The steering mechanism of claim 14, the linear actuator comprising one extremity of the actuator which is associated with said chassis and another extremity which is associated with a longitudinal rod associated with at least one of the rails.
16. The steering mechanism of claim 1, including an electric motor for each steered wheel, wherein each of said motors is configured to pivot with the associated steered wheel during the turns.
17. The steering mechanism of claim 16, further comprising electronic means for controlling the rotation speed of the electric motors so as to make outside wheels of the steered wheels turn faster than inside wheels of the steered wheels during turns.
18. A wheelchair, notably for the disabled, comprising a steering mechanism according to claim 1.
19. The wheelchair of claim 18, further comprising a seat and electric batteries for electrically driving the steered wheels, said batteries being placed under the seat, on both sides of a transmission rod between a front pair of the steered wheels and a rear pair of the steered wheels.