GB1584110A

GB1584110A - Folding push-chairs

Info

Publication number: GB1584110A
Application number: GB53124/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: JANE CABAGNERO R
Current assignee: JANE CABAGNERO R
Priority date: 1977-03-31
Filing date: 1977-12-21
Publication date: 1981-02-04
Also published as: CH621522A5; NL7800400A; ES227893U; IT7820934A0; IT1093174B; DE2800350A1; PT67716B; FR2385363A1; IT7821060V0; PT67716A; FR2385363B1; DE2800350C2; ES227893Y; BE862491A

Abstract

For the purpose of providing convenience of folding and unfolding of the chair, as well as good rigidity of the latter in the unfolded state, the lateral elements (1, 3-7), of the seat frame, and the elements of the backrest (2) are linked at the rear to an articulated frame composed of two transverse compasses elements (8, 9) and a central control upright (10). The two main lateral elements of the frame (7) are moreover linked by two articulated crossed arms (12, 13), articulation elements (13) of these arms being located in a zone of intermediate height. The central upright (10) of the frame comprises a control handle (10') which makes it possible very easily to fold and unfold the folding chair. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING PUSH-CHAIRS (71) I, RAMÓN JANÉ CABAG NERO, a Spanish citizen, of 203 Cartagena Street, Barcelona, Spain. do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a Patent may be granted to me. and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to folding push chairs of the kind described and claimed in Patent Specification No. 1.560.594.

The push chair which forms the subject of Patent Specification No. 1.560.594 comprises a chassis having two side frame assemblies each having two wheels and a handle.

the chassis being foldable in such a manner that the side frame assemblies are moved towards one another. wherein the push chair further includes side members forming a seat frame which side members are pivotally connected intermediate their ends with respective side members forming a back rest frame, which latter side members are equipped with means for control and support in relation to the chassis in order to create different rake positions of a back rest supported by said back rest frame, the side frame assemblies being linked at the rear through articulated links which can be locked in relation to the respective side frame assemblies.

While this push chair is quite satisfactorv.

the sliding of the top ends of the articulated links on the side frame assemblies does have some disadvantages during folding and unfolding of the push chair because the friction resulting from the sliding engagement can cause the folding and unfolding operations to require some degree of effort in order to overcome said friction. The present invention aims to overcome these disadvantages.

According to the present invention. there is provided a folding push chair comprising a chassis having two side frame assemblies each having two wheels and a handle. a foldable linkage interconnecting the side frame assemblies in such a manner that the chassis can be folded by moving the side frame assemblies towards one another, a pair of seat frame members each of which is pivotally connected to a respective side frame assembly, and a foldable back rest frame including at least two side members each of which is pivotally mounted at its lower end on a respective seat frame member and is connected at its upper end to a respective side frame assembly by means for adjusting the angle or rake of the back rest frame with respect to the seat frame members, the foldable linkage being pivotally mounted at fixed locations on the side frame assemblies.

Preferably. either the foldable linkage or the foldable back rest frame includes two pairs of links and an elongate member extending in a plane substantially parallel to the planes in which the side frame assemblies are located, one end of each link being pivotally connected to the elongate member and the other end of each link being pivotally connected to a respective side frame assembly or to a respective side member of the back rest frame or seat frame member. With this arrangement, the elongate member can be moved in one direction to facilitate folding of the push chair and in the other direction to facilitate unfolding or erection of the push chair.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the links and elongate member comprise part of the foldable back rest frame. In this case, the said foldable linkage can comprise a scissors linkage pivotally mounted at the lower ends of the scissor arms on the side frame assemblies and pivotally connected at the upper ends of said scissor arms to intermediate links which are in turn pivotally connected to the side frame assemblies. Alternatively. if the links and elongate member comprise part of the said foldable linkage, the foldable back rest frame may comprise the above-described scissors linkage and intermediate links which are pivotally connected to the side members of the back rest frame.

The seat frame members and side members of the back rest frame are preferably secured to an articulated framework consisting of a double transverse toggle arrangement, two upright members and a common central control rod, the upper ends of the upright members being connected to the respective side members of the back rest frame by means of ferrules slidably mounted thereon and the bottom ends of said upright members being articulated to the respective rear ends of the seat frame members, the foldable linkage interconnecting the side frame assemblies including two crossed, articulated arms whose upper ends are articulated at an intermediate point.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a folding push chair according to the invention in the erected or unfolded position: and Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the push chair shown in Figure 1 in the folded position.

Referring to the drawings. the push chair comprises a chassis having two side frame assemblies each comprising a front wheel carrying member 3, a handle member 5 articulatedly connected at one end to the member 3 by a U-shaped tie element 4 and provided with a handle 6 at its other end, and a rear wheel carrying member 7 pivotally connected to the handle section 5 by a tie element 7a.

A seat frame member 1 is pivotally connected to each of the wheel carrying members 3 and 7 of each side frame assembly and a respective side member 2 forming part of a back rest frame, is pivotally connected to each of the seat frame members intermediate the ends thereof by means of suitable tie elements la.

The back rest frame further comprises a pair of upright members 9. two pairs of connecting links X and an inter-connecting elongate member in the form of a central control rod 10. The lower ends of the upright members 9 are pivotally mounted on respective tie elements 9a provided on the seat frame members I and one pair of links 8 are also pivotally mounted on these tie elements. The upper ends of the members 9 are connected to respective ferrules 11 mounted on the side members 2. The other pair of links 8 are pivotally mounted on the ferrules and all four links are pivotally connected to the central control rod 1() by tie elements 8a. The ferrules II are slidable on the respective side members 2 and the control rod 10 is provided at its upper end with a handle 10a.The arrangement is preferably such that, in the position shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the links 8 are in an over-centre position and are thus effective to lock the push chair in the erected or unfolded position.

The rear wheel carrying members 7 are connected together by means of a foldable linkage comprising a scissors linkage consisting of two crossed articulated arms 12 which are pivotally interconnected intermediate their ends and are pivotally connected at their lower ends to respective members 7.

The arms 12 are pivotally connected at their upper ends to respective intermediate links 13 which are in turn pivotally connected to the wheel carrying members 7.

A further scissors linkage in the form of two crossed articulated elements 14 is also provided, the elements 14 being pivotally connected to tie elements 14a provided at the lower ends of the wheel carrying members 3 and 7 and the elements 14 being further interconnected intermediate their ends.

The angle or rake of the seat back with respect to the seat of the push chair may be adjusted by means of adjusting elements 15.

These elements may take the form of those described in Patent Specification No.

1,560,594 although other forms of adjusting elements may be utilised if desired.

The push chair further comprises a seat 16 and seat back covering 17 of a suitable flexible material such as textile or plastics and having flexible side pieces 18. The flexible seat back 17 is preferably provided with stiffening means which may take the form of longitudinal slats incorporated into the seat back for improved rigidity while at the same time permitting the seat back to be folded in bellows fashion. A suitable arrangement for stiffening the seat back is described and claimed in Patent Specification No. 1,560.299.

The handle sections 5 are connected together by a flexible linkage such as a strip 19 of flexible material and a foot rest may also be provided in the form of a flexible strip 20.

In order to fold the push chair from the position shown in Figure 1, it is simply necessary to pull the handle 10a in an upwards direction and to push the handles 6 forwards. The folded push chair can be erected simply by pulling the handles in the reverse direction and by pushing the handle l()a downwards to lock the push chair in the erected or deployed position.

It should be noted that the invention is not restricted to the above-described embodiment but that modifications and other embodiments are envisaged without depart ing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A folding push chair comprising a chassis having two side frame assemblies each having two wheels and a handle, a foldable linkage interconnecting the side frame assemblies in such a manner that the chassis can be folded by moving the side frame assemblies towards one another, a pair of seat frame members, each of which is pivotally connected to a respective side frame assembly, and a foldable back rest frame including at least two side members each of which is pivotally mounted at its lower end on a respective seat frame member and is connected at its upper end to a respective side frame assembly by means for adjusting the angle or rake of the back rest frame with respect to the seat frame members, the foldable linkage being pivotally mounted at fixed locations on the side frame assemblies.

2. A folding push chair according to claim 1, wherein either the foldable linkage or the foldable back rest frame includes two pairs of links and an elongate member extending in a plane substantially parallel to the planes in which the side frame assemblies are located, one end of each link being pivotally connected to the elongate member and the other end of each link being connected to a respective side frame assembly or to a respective side member of the back rest frame or seat frame member.

3. A folding push chair according to claim 2. wherein the links and elongate member comprise part of the foldable back rest frame and wherein the said foldable linkage comprises a scissors linkage pivotally mounted at the lower ends of the scissor arms on the side frame assemblies and pivotally connected at the upper ends of said scissor arms to intermediate links which are in turn pivotally connected to the side frame assemblies.

4. A folding push chair according to claim 3, wherein the said other ends of the upper pair of links are pivotally connected to ferrules which are slidablv mounted on the respective side members of the back rest frame.

5. A folding push chair according to claim 2, wherein the links and elongate member comprise part of the said foldable linkage and wherein the foldable back rest frame comprises a scissors linkage pivotally mounted at the lower ends of the scissor arms on the side members of the back rest frame and pivotally connected at the upper ends of said scissor arms to intermediate links which are in turn pivotallv connected to the said side members of the back rest frame.

6. A folding push chair according to any preceding claim, wherein the seat and seat back are formed of flexible material and wherein the seat back is provided with stiffening means.

7. A folding push chair according to claim 6, wherein the stiffening means comprise a number of longitudinal slats incorporated into the seat back, said slats imparting rigidity to the seat back while at the same time permitting the seat back to be folded in bellows fashion.

8. A folding push chair according to claim 1, wherein the seat frame members and side members of the back rest frame are secured to an articulated frame-work consisting of a double transverse toggle arrangement, two upright members and a common central control rod, the upper ends of the upright members being connected to the respective side members of the back rest frame by means of ferrules slidably mounted thereon and the bottom ends of said upright members being articulated to the respective rear ends of the seat frame members, and wherein the foldable linkage interconnecting the side frame assemblies includes two crossed, articulated arms whose upper ends are articulated at an intermediate point.

9. A folding push chair substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. ing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A folding push chair comprising a chassis having two side frame assemblies each having two wheels and a handle, a foldable linkage interconnecting the side frame assemblies in such a manner that the chassis can be folded by moving the side frame assemblies towards one another, a pair of seat frame members, each of which is pivotally connected to a respective side frame assembly, and a foldable back rest frame including at least two side members each of which is pivotally mounted at its lower end on a respective seat frame member and is connected at its upper end to a respective side frame assembly by means for adjusting the angle or rake of the back rest frame with respect to the seat frame members, the foldable linkage being pivotally mounted at fixed locations on the side frame assemblies.