HK1054901B - Stroller - Google Patents

Description

Baby carriage

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a foldable stroller, and more particularly, to a triple-foldable stroller that can be locked in a double-folded state.

Background

A known pushchair has a body frame consisting of a front frame and a rear frame which can be drawn towards each other, thereby folding the pushchair into a compact state, reducing the longitudinal dimension of the pushchair. Hereinafter, this type of pushchair is referred to as a two-fold pushchair. Another known pushchair has a body frame consisting of a front frame and a rear frame which can be drawn together to reduce the longitudinal dimension of the pushchair and which can be folded further inwards to reduce the transverse dimension of the pushchair for greater portability. Hereinafter, this type of pushchair is referred to as a triple-fold pushchair.

The previously known triple-folding stroller has a locking mechanism that can only lock the triple-folding stroller in the triple-folded state, but it does not have any locking mechanism that can lock the triple-folding stroller in the double-folded state. Thus, the triple-fold stroller cannot be fixed in the double-folded state.

Thus, it is difficult to fold the known pushchair with one hand while holding the child with the other hand, and it may also happen that the pushchair is accidentally unfolded when temporarily folded in two while carrying the pushchair upstairs or downstairs, because the pushchair does not provide any locking mechanism capable of locking the pushchair in the two-folded state.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a three-wheeled stroller that can be surely maintained in a two-fold state.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stroller comprising: a pair of rear legs; a handle connected to the pair of rear legs; wherein the pair of rear legs are movable to a folded position relative to the handle for folding, and a locking device between the handle and the pair of rear legs for maintaining the stroller in the folded position when the pair of rear legs are in the folded position relative to the handle; wherein each locking device comprises a locking member slidably mounted to one end of the handle and a stationary member rotatable with the frame relative to the handle, and wherein the locking member and the stationary member each have first detent portions which engage each other when the stroller is folded.

In the stroller according to the present invention, the rear legs and the handle are connected by a bracket.

In the stroller according to the present invention, each of the locking devices comprises a locking member slidably mounted to one end of the handle and a fixing member capable of rotating with the support frame relative to the handle, the locking member and the fixing member each having first braking parts which are engaged with each other when the stroller is folded.

In the stroller according to the present invention, when the pair of rear legs are moved relative to the handle for folding, the fixing member and the bracket are rotated together relative to the handle, and when the pair of rear legs are folded relative to the handle, the corresponding first stopper parts and locking members of the fixing member are engaged with each other.

In the stroller according to the invention, the locking element and the support frame are provided with second detent parts, respectively, which engage with each other when the stroller is unfolded.

In the stroller according to the present invention, the locking member is urged toward the fixing member by an elastic member.

In the buggy according to the invention, when the securing element is turned, a working part present on the securing element is able to move the locking element against the force exerted by the elastic element.

In the stroller according to the present invention, the armrest is rotatably coupled to the handle, and the pair of rear legs are respectively rotatably coupled to the armrest.

In the stroller according to the present invention, the handle has a middle portion and opposite side portions which are inwardly rotatable with respect to the middle portion, and the handle is foldable into three.

In the stroller according to the present invention, the front legs are connected to the rear legs by the side connection bars, respectively, and the fixing members are fixed to rear end portions of the side connection bars, respectively.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a triple-folding stroller comprises: a pair of rear legs; a handle connected to the pair of rear legs, the handle having opposite side portions that are steerable forward, wherein the pair of rear legs are movable to a folded position relative to the handle for folding, and a locking device between the handle and the pair of rear legs that maintains the stroller in the folded position when the pair of rear legs are in the folded position relative to the handle.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a stroller comprises a pair of front legs, a pair of rear legs, a handle connected to the pair of rear legs, a pair of side links connecting the right front leg and the right rear leg, respectively, and the left front leg and the left rear leg, and a stay connecting the side links, characterized in that a bottom portion included in a seat is supported by the stay.

In the buggy according to the invention the stays are provided with seat support elements extending longitudinally in opposite directions of the stays.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a stroller according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a deployed state;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a locking mechanism included in the stroller of FIG. 1 as viewed from the interior of the stroller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the locking mechanism as viewed from the exterior of the stroller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a locking member;

FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are generalized side views of the stroller shown in FIG. 1 in an unfolded and folded position, respectively;

FIG. 6 is a side view fragment of the stroller in a deployed condition to help explain the locking operation of the locking mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a side view fragment of the stroller to help explain the locking operation of the locking mechanism, wherein the securing member raises the locking member upward;

FIG. 8 is a side view fragment of the stroller in a folded condition that is useful in helping to explain the locking operation of the locking mechanism;

fig. 9 is a perspective view of a conventional triple-folding stroller in a deployed state;

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the stroller of FIG. 9 in a folded condition;

fig. 11 is a perspective view of an important part of a stroller according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 12 is a perspective view of the stroller of the second embodiment.

Detailed Description

First embodiment

An overview of a stroller is described below.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a tri-fold stroller in an unfolded, i.e., operative, state, and fig. 10 is a view of the same stroller folded in a tri-fold, wherein the stroller includes a locking mechanism. A folding operation of folding the unfolded stroller in the unfolded state shown in fig. 9 to the triple fold shown in fig. 10 will be described below with reference to fig. 9 and 10.

Referring to fig. 9, some operation wires, not shown, extend from one of the operation devices 7. The locking elements 6 are lifted by operating the operating wires to move sliders, not shown, to separate the locking elements 6 from the corresponding brackets 4 which hold the stroller in the unfolded state, thereby unlocking the stroller.

The pushchair is then secured by the opposite sides C of the handle 5, the front wheels or armrests 3 are raised and turned towards the backrest B, as indicated by the arrow X (first folding phase). By folding the stroller in two, the longitudinal length of the stroller will be reduced. Next, the opposite side portion C of the handle 5 is bent forward in the arrow Y direction (second fixing stage). By folding the stroller in three, the lateral length of the stroller will be reduced.

The stroller has a seat bottom divided into left and right portions, and a mating device D including mating elements is attached to inner end parts of the left and right portions, respectively. When the stroller is thus folded in three, the mating elements engage each other to lock the stroller in the three-folded position, as shown in fig. 10.

A foldable stroller according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 8.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a three-fold stroller of a first embodiment in a deployed state. The stroller has left and right rear legs 1. Rear wheels 2 for rotation are supported at lower end portions of the rear legs 1, respectively. The rear wheels 2 are respectively incorporated with wheel brakes, not shown. The wheel brake prevents the rear wheel 2 from rotating and parks the stroller in a desired position for a period of time. The upper end portions of the rear legs 1 are rotatably connected to substantially the middle positions of the armrests 3, respectively.

Referring to fig. 2, an L-shaped bracket 4 (connecting member) has one end rotatably connected to the outside of a substantially middle position of each rear leg 1 by a pin 60 and the other end rotatably connected to the lower end of a side portion of a handle 5 having an inverted letter U shape by a pin 70. A second stop element 4a and a first stop element 4b are formed in the holder 4 (fig. 8). The braking members 4a and 4b are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined angular interval. The second detent part 4a is engageable with a second detent part 6a formed in a locking element 6. When the second brake part 4a is engaged with the second brake part 6a, the stroller is fixed in the deployed state. The first stop member 4b is a recessed portion of the bracket 4.

Referring again to fig. 1, the locking element 6 is connected by a not shown wire extending from the handle 5 to an operating device 7, which operating device 7 is mounted in the middle of the handle 5. The second detent part 6a on the locking element 6 can be disengaged from the second detent part 4a on the bracket 4 by operating the operating means 7 to move the locking element 6 longitudinally up the side portion of the handle 5. The locking element 6 is always pushed towards the bracket 4 by a spring 5a located in the handle 5.

Each armrest 3 has one end rotatably coupled to the handle 5 and the other end rotatably coupled to the front leg 8. The front wheel 9 is connected to the lower end portion of the front leg 8 by a pivot means not shown. The pivot means enables the stroller to be smoothly rotated, changing the direction of movement. The pivot means may be locked or unlocked as desired by chance.

Referring to fig. 3, a fixing member 10 is rotatably coupled to the lower end inside of the side portion of each handle 5 by a pin 70, the pin 70 being located at opposite sides of the handle 5 from the bracket 4. The fixing element 10 has a first stop part 10a which is capable of engaging a first stop part 6b, which first stop part 6b is diametrically opposed to a second stop part 6a on the fixing element 6, as shown in fig. 4. Each of the stopper members 6a and 6b has a fixed-width depressed portion formed at the lower end of the fixing member 6.

Referring to fig. 3, each of the side connecting strips 11 has a rear end attached to the fixing member 10. As shown in fig. 1, a hook 12 and a loop 13 are hinged at the middle of the right and left front legs 8, respectively. The front ends of the side connecting strips 11 are attached to the hooks 12 and the loops 13, respectively. When the stroller is folded in three, the hook 12 and loop 13 engage to secure the stroller in the folded position.

The connecting strips 14a, 14b and 14c extend between the pair of front legs 8, the pair of side connecting strips 11 and the pair of rear legs 1, respectively. Each of the connecting strips 14a, 14b and 14c is divided into approximately equal three sections, and the adjoining sections are joined by two joints, respectively. The middle portion of the handle 5 is divided into three substantially equal parts similarly to the connecting strips 14a, 14b and 14c, and the adjacent parts are rotatably combined by two joints, respectively. The joints of the connecting strips 14a, 14b and 14c are aligned in two substantially parallel lines with the middle of the handle 5, respectively, so that the stroller body can be folded into a U-shape.

The pair of front legs 8, the pair of side connecting bars 11, the pair of rear legs 1, the armrest 3 and the connecting bars 14a, 14b and 14c are important components of the stroller, and they are assembled into a rectangular frame, which is located in a plane. A guard 15 extends between the front ends of the armrests 3 to protect an infant seated in the stroller seat from falling out of the seat.

The folding operation of the pushchair will be described hereinafter. Fig. 5(a) and 5(b) show the stroller shown in fig. 1 in the unfolded state and the folded state, respectively. The operating means 7 is operated to raise the locking element 6 along the side portions of the handle 5 to separate the locking element 6 from the bracket 4. Next, the armrest 3 is rotated in the direction of the point a surrounded by the arrow a with respect to the handle 5. Thus, the high end of the rear leg 1 moves toward the handle 5, and the bracket 4 rotates in the direction of the point B surrounded by the arrow B. With the stand 4 thus rotated in the direction of arrow B, the front leg 8 is raised and rotated in the direction of point C surrounded by arrow C. Thus, the stroller is folded into a so-called two-fold state in which the rear legs 1 and the front legs 8 are moved to a substantially middle position of the handle 5, as shown in fig. 5 (b).

The locking operation of the locking mechanism of the pushchair in the first embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 6 to 8. Fig. 6 shows the locking mechanism in the unfolded state of the stroller, fig. 7 shows the locking mechanism when the securing member 10 is rotated about 30 ° from the position in the unfolded state, when a working portion 10b on the securing member 10 lifts the locking member 6, and fig. 8 shows the locking mechanism in the folded state of the stroller.

Referring to fig. 6, when the stroller is in the deployed condition, the second brake part 4a on the bracket 4 engages with the second brake part 6a on the locking element 6 to hold the stroller in the deployed condition. In fig. 6, a straight line 100 indicates the position and angle of the side connecting bar 11.

When a predetermined operation, such as an operation of pressing a button, operates the operating device 7 to raise the lock member 6 along the side portion of the handle 5 in the unfolded state of the stroller, the lock member 6 is separated from the stand 4 so that the rear legs 1 can be rotated. Then, the handle 5 is fixed by the opposite side portions thereof, the front wheel 9 is raised, or the armrest 3 turns rearward. Thus, when turning the rear leg 1, the bracket 4 is turned, whereby the fixing element 10 supported by the pin 70 is also turned, as shown in fig. 7.

The working portion 10b of the fixing element 10 then raises the locking element 6. When the braking part 10a of the fixing member 10 reaches a predetermined position, the locking member 6 is lowered by the elastic force of the spring 5a, and the braking part 6b of the locking member 6 and the braking part 10a of the fixing member 10 are engaged together to fold the stroller completely in two. When the detent 6b on the locking member 6 and the detent 10a on the fixed member are engaged, a portion of the locking member 6 engages the detent 4b on the bracket 4, stopping rotation of the bracket 4 and the fixed member 10 relative to the handle 5. Thus, the stroller is locked in the two-fold state. The detent part 6b on the locking element 6 and the detent part 10a on the fixing element 10 together constitute a locking mechanism.

The two-fold baby carriage can be further folded into three folds and is positioned on a plane in a U shape. The opposite side of the handle 5 (fig. 1) is turned forward. As described above, since each of the handle 5 and the connecting strips 14a, 14b and 14c has a rotatable joint to divide its length into approximately equal three sections, the handle 5 and the rotatable joints in the connecting strips 14a, 14b and 14c are arranged in two approximately parallel straight lines. Thus, when the opposite side portions of the handle 5 are turned forward, the side portions of the connecting strips 14a, 14b, and 14c are also turned forward accordingly. Thus, the stroller can be folded in three, U-shaped in one plane, as shown in FIG. 10.

When the stroller is thus folded into a U-shape with a reduced width, the front ends of the side connecting strips 11 extend between the front legs 8 and the fixing elements 10, which are close to each other. Since the hook 12 and the loop 13 are respectively attached to the front ends of the side attachment strips, the hook 12 and the loop 13 are automatically engaged together when the front ends of the side attachment strips 11 approach each other, positively securing the stroller in the triple-folded state.

When it is desired to unfold the tri-fold stroller, the hook 12 and loop 13 can be separated by the user and the reverse of these steps described above and shown in figures 6 to 8 will be performed.

As described above, according to the above embodiment, since the fixing member 10 has the stopper part 10a to be engaged with the locking member 6, the stroller can be securely folded and fixed in the two-folded state in the above simple manner. In addition, since the stroller is fixed in the two-folded state, the stroller is easily carried in the two-folded state.

Although the present invention is described as applied to a three-fold stroller, the present invention is not limited to its practical application, and it is not to be understood that the present invention is also applicable to a two-fold stroller.

In the first embodiment of the stroller, although the locking member 6 is engaged to the first brake part 4b of the stand 4 to fix the stroller in the two-folded state, the stand 4 does not necessarily need to provide the first brake part 4 b.

As is evident from the foregoing description, the pushchair according to the invention comprises several component elements fitted into a rectangular frame on the same plane and a handle connected to one of the sets of these component elements by means of some connecting elements, some opposite sides and some parallel component elements on the handle being able to turn forward. Since the stopper means formed on the base portion of the handle holds the component members in a state inclined to the handle and the stopper members hold the stroller in a folded state, the stroller is easily folded and the accidental unfolding of the stroller is prevented.

Second embodiment

A stroller according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 11 and 12. Fig. 12 is a cut-away perspective view of a stroller with a suspended seat. The stroller has a body including left and right front legs 112 with front wheels 111, left and right rear legs 114 with rear wheels 113, a generally U-shaped handle 115, and left and right armrests 116. A separable guard 117 extends between the left and right armrests 116. The handle 115 has left and right side tubes 118. The rear end of the armrest 116 is rotatably coupled to a portion near the lower end of the side tube 118. The high ends of the front legs 112 are rotatably coupled to the front ends of the armrests 116, respectively. The high ends of the rear legs 114 are rotatably coupled to the middle portions of the armrests 116, respectively. Lower ends of the L-shaped brackets 119 are rotatably coupled to middle portions of the rear legs 114, respectively. The lower ends of the side tubes 118 are rotatably coupled to the middle portions of the brackets 119, respectively. When the stroller is in the deployed condition, a locking element 120, which is axially slidably mounted to a portion of the side tube 118, engages a detent formed at the high end of the bracket 119 to secure the stroller in the deployed condition.

A front connecting bar 121 extends between the left and right front legs 112. A rear connecting strap 122 extends between the left and right rear legs 114. The side link 123 has front ends rotatably coupled to the middle portions of the front legs 112, respectively, and rear ends rotatably coupled to the lower ends of the side tubes 118 together with the bracket 119, respectively. A brace 124 extends between the middle of the left and right connecting bars 123.

The stroller is secured in use in the unfolded state by engaging a locking element 120 mounted to the lower end portion of the side tube 118 with a detent feature formed at the high end of the bracket 119. When the locking member 120 is separated from the bracket 119 by operating an operating means 125 installed on the handle 115, the handle 116 and the side link 123 are rotated on the pins rotatably supporting the handle 116 and the side link 123, and the front leg 112 and the rear leg 114 are rotated so as to be substantially parallel to each other, so that the stroller can be folded for convenient carrying.

Each of the handle 115, the front connecting bar 121, the rear connecting bar 122 and the upper connecting bar 124 is divided into three parts, which are joined by a pair of rotating joints. The pair of rotational joints of the handle 115, the front connecting bar 121, the rear connecting bar 122 and the upper connecting bar 124 are respectively included on two vertical planes. After the front legs 112 and the rear legs 114 are arranged in parallel with each other, when the opposite side tubes 118 are turned forward, the opposite side portions of the handle 115, the front connecting bar 121, the rear connecting bar 122, and the upper connecting bar 124 are turned forward, thereby folding the stroller in three.

A seat 126 is supported on the left and right side barrels 118 and the side connecting bars 123. The back of the seat 126 is connected to the side tubes 118, and the bottom 126b of the seat 126 is attached to the left and right side connecting bars 123 to hang the seat 126 like a hammock. The brace 124 also supports a base 126b therein.

The main components of the stroller are shown in fig. 11, and the seat 126 on the stroller will be described in conjunction with this figure. The front ends of the side links 123 are rotatably coupled to the middle portions of the front legs 112, respectively, and the rear ends of the side links 123 are rotatably coupled to the lower ends of the side tubes 118, respectively, together with the brackets 119 rotatably coupled to the rear legs 114. The stay 124 extends between the middle portions of the left and right connecting bars 123. The brace 124 is divided into three sections connected by two swivel joints 124a and 124 b. In this way, the opposite sides of the strut 124 can rotate the joints 124a and 124b, respectively. Seat support members 130 for supporting the seat 126 extend longitudinally from the outer front ends to the outer rear ends of the rotary joints 124a and 124b, respectively. The base 1261b, and in particular the core 126a in combination with the base 126b, is supported by the struts 124 and the seat support member 130 when the seat 126 is mounted on the stroller body.

Since the bottom 126b of the seat 126 is supported by the longitudinally extending seat support member 130, the seat 126 cannot swing on the stay 124, thereby improving the stability of the bottom 126 b.

As is evident from the foregoing description, the struts connecting the side connecting straps, which connect the front and rear legs, carry longitudinal seat support elements on which the bottom of the seat suspended like a hammock is supported. Thus, the bottom of the seat is constrained from swinging on the struts and from moving longitudinally. Thus, the stability of the sole is improved and the child in the vehicle will enjoy a better comfort.

Claims (17)

1. A stroller, comprising:

a pair of rear legs;

a handle connected to the pair of rear legs;

wherein the pair of rear legs are movable to a folded position relative to the handle for folding, an

A locking device located between the handle and the pair of rear legs, the locking device maintaining the stroller in a folded state when the pair of rear legs are in a folded position relative to the handle;

wherein each locking device comprises a locking member slidably mounted to one end of the handle and a stationary member rotatable with the frame relative to the handle, and wherein the locking member and the stationary member each have first detent portions which engage each other when the stroller is folded.

2. The stroller of claim 1, wherein the rear legs and the handle are connected by a brace.

3. The stroller as recited in claim 1, wherein the mounting member and the bracket rotate together relative to the handle when the pair of rear legs are moved relative to the handle for folding, and the respective first detent features on the mounting member and the first detent features of the locking member engage each other when the pair of rear legs are folded relative to the handle.

4. The stroller as recited in claim 1, wherein the locking member and the bracket each have a second detent member, the second detent members being engageable with each other when the stroller is deployed.

5. A stroller according to claim 3, wherein the locking member is urged towards the stationary member by a resilient member.

6. The stroller of claim 5, wherein a working portion is present on the stationary member to move the locking member against the force exerted by the resilient member when the stationary member is rotated.

7. The stroller as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of armrests rotatably coupled to the handle, the pair of rear legs being respectively rotatably coupled to the armrests.

8. The stroller as recited in claim 1, wherein the handle has a central portion and opposite side portions that are inwardly pivotable relative to the central portion, and the handle is foldable into a tri-fold configuration.

9. The stroller of claim 1, wherein the front legs are connected to the rear legs by side connecting bars, respectively, and the fixing members are fixed to rear end portions of the side connecting bars, respectively.

10. A tri-fold stroller, comprising:

a pair of rear legs;

a handle connected to the pair of rear legs, the handle having opposite lateral portions that are steerable forwardly;

wherein the pair of rear legs are movable to a folded position relative to the handle for folding, an

A locking device located between the handle and the pair of rear legs, the locking device maintaining the stroller in a folded state when the pair of rear legs are in a folded position relative to the handle;

wherein each locking means comprises a locking member slidably mounted to one end of the handle and a securing member rotatable with the support relative to the handle, the locking member and securing member each having a first detent which interengages when the stroller is folded.

11. The tri-fold stroller of claim 10, wherein the rear legs and the handle are connected by a bracket.

12. The tri-fold stroller of claim 10, wherein the securing member and the bracket rotate together relative to the handle when the pair of rear legs are moved relative to the handle for folding, and the securing member and the corresponding first detent member on the locking member engage each other when the pair of rear legs are folded relative to the handle.

13. The tri-fold stroller of claim 10, wherein the locking member and the bracket each have a second detent member, the second detent members being engageable with each other when the stroller is unfolded.

14. The tri-fold stroller of claim 12, wherein the locking member is urged toward the securing member by a resilient member.

15. The tri-fold stroller of claim 14, wherein the securing member has a working portion adapted to move the locking member against the force exerted by the resilient member when the securing member is rotated.

16. The tri-fold stroller of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of armrests, said armrests being rotatably coupled to said handle, said pair of rear legs being rotatably coupled to said armrests, respectively.

17. The tri-fold stroller of claim 10, wherein the front legs are connected to the rear legs by side connecting strips, respectively, and the fixing members are fixed to rear end portions of the side connecting strips, respectively.