GB2123760A - Foldable pushchairs - Google Patents

Abstract

The pushchair comprises a chassis consisting of two sections which are movable laterally with respect to each other and with respect to a fore-and-aft axis (10) of the pushchair (1) between apart and together positions corresponding respectively to open and closed conditions of the pushchair (1), a foldable backrest frame (15, 16) which is connected between the two chassis sections so that it can be moved into a generally upright position, in which it is unfolded and maintains the chassis sections in their apart positions and a folded position in which it lies generally parallel to the fore-and-aft axis (10) of the pushchair (1), thereby permitting the chassis sections to assume their together position, a seat (28) suspended from the chassis sections and releasable means 32 for maintaining the pushchair (1) in its open condition, wherein the backrest frame (15, 16) comprises a plurality of hinged- together sections and is foldable about two axes which are parallel to the fore and aft axis 10 when the backrest is in the folded position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Foldable pushchair This invention relates to a foldable pushchair and is related especially, but not exclusively, to such a pushchair with detachable bags for shopping purposes.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a foldble pushchair comprising a chassis consisting generally of two halves, which are rotatable with respect to each other and about a fore-and-aft axis of the chassis between open and closed conditions of the pushchair, and a backrest which, in the open condition of the pushchair, serves to maintain the two chassis halves apart and which, in the closed condition of the pushchair, is folded about two parallel axes lying parallel with respect to the fore-and-aft axis of the chassis.

Preferably, the backrest of the pushchair can be rotated with respect to the chassis about another axis lying generally perpendicular to the fore-andaft axis and, also, may be retained in its unfolded position, that is to say, with the pushchair in its open condition, by means of an over-centre linkage connected to the bottom of the backrest and to a point on the chassis which is in axial alignment with the fore-and-aft axis.

Each chassis half may consist of an arm portion and two leg portions at respective opposed fore and aft ends thereof, with the chassis halves and the backrest being of tubular construction. A fabric liner, forming the seat and back of the pushchair, may be attached to the chassis and backrest at suitable points thereof and, preferably, the length of the fabric at the back can be adjusted to provide a reclined position. In such an instance, the front edge of the seat fabric may be provided with an extendable portion which can be clipped or otherwise connected to the fore part of each chassis half to permit a semi-lying position to be attained. For normal use of the pushchair, however, a suitable footrest is provided, preferably on the fore leg portion of each chassis half.

Advantageously, a shopping bag may be detachably secured to at least one side of the chassis, whereby the stability of the pushchair in use is maintained.

It will be appreciated that the lower end of each leg portion is provided with a suitable type of wheel and, preferably, the fore wheels are of the castor type.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a preferred form of foldable pushchair in accordance therewith, will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view, from one side, of a foldable pushchair in its open condition; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the pushchair shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the pushchair shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the pushchair shown in Figs. 1 to 3 but in its closed condition; and Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the pushchair shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, a foldable pushchair 1 comprises a chassis consisting generally of two halves 2,3. Each half has an arm portion 4,5 and two generally Lshaped leg portions 6,7 and 8,9 at respective fore and aft ends thereof. Each fore leg portion 6,7 is connected to an axis 10 about which the two chassis halves 2,3 are rotatable and which extends fore and aft of the chassis. The connection, between the leg portions 6,7 and the fore and aft axis 10 is provided by a foot rest having respective halves 11,12 secured to associated leg portions 6,7. The two aft leg portions 8,9 are connected in a similar manner to the aft end of the axis 10, the arrangement between the two chassis halves 2,3 and the fore and aft axis 10 being such that the two chassis halves are rotatable with respect to each other about this axis.

The lower end of each leg portion 6 and 9 is provided with a wheel, the two pairs of fore wheels 1 3 being of the castor type.

A backrest 14 also consists generally of two halves 15,16 which, at their lower ends 17,18, are connected by respective pivot joints 19,20 to the end of one element 21 of an over centre linkage 22. This one centre linkage element 21 is pivotally connected to a second element 23 which, in turn, is pivotally connected at 26 to the aft end of the axis 10. Also, the two halves 1 5,16 of the backrest 14 are rotatably connected to respective arm portions 4,5 of the chassis halves 2,3 at points 24,25. The rotational points 24,25 are coaxial with respect to each other, with the pushchair in its open condition, with their common axis parallel to the axis of the connection between the lower ends 1 7,18 of the backrest halves 15,16 and the one centre linkage element 21.Also, this common axis between the points 24,25 is parallel to the pivotal axis between the two centre linkage elements 21 23 and parallel to the axis between the second element 23 and the axis 1 0. Such parallel axes are perpendicular to the fore-and-aft axis 10. A shaped fabric 26 is attached to the backrest 14 and chassis at suitable places to provide a pleated back 27 and a seat 28 for the pushchair 1, together with associated sides 29. Additionally, the fabric seat 28 is provided with internal reinforcing slats (not shown), which can be folded with respect to each other, and is supported at its underside upon a stand 30 attached to the fore-and-aft axis 10.

To the front edge of the front seat 28, or adjacent thereto, can be attached a further piece of fabric (not shown) in rolled form, such that it can be unrolled and secured to each half 2,3 of the chassis in the region of the juncture of the respective arm and leg portions 4,6 and 5,7. With this arrangement, the fabric back 27 of the backrest 14 can be adjusted, as shown in double dashed lines in Fig. 2, to place the back in a reclined position and the pushchair in an overall semi-lying condition. Adjustment of the back 27 is achieved by altering the length of the fabric tab 30 passing over the top of the backrest 14 and by altering the width of vertical pleats in the backrest fabric. Hidden behind this tab is a pair of pivot joints similar to the joints 19,20 at the bottom of the backrest 14.These two hidden joints are aligned with the respective joints 19,20 to facilitate folding of the pushchair into the closed condition, as will be described below.

A shopping bag 31, as shown in chain dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3, can be attached to each side of the chassis, for instance, by means of a suitable connection to each arm portion 4,5 and to a lower part of each chassis half 2,3 or to the axis 10.

In Figs. 1 to 3, the pushchair is shown in its open condition, whereas in Figs. 4 and 5, it is shown in its closed condition after folding.

The folding operation is basically in two steps.

Firstly, and with reference to Fig. 2, a locking catch 32 associated with the over-centre linkage 22 is released such that the backrest 14 can be rotated about the common axis between the points 24,25, in the direction of the arrow A, whereby the backrest assumes the position shown in chain dotted lines, as represented by the reference 16',18',21 and 23'. In this intermediate position, the pivot joints 1 9,20 and the associated joints which are hidden by the fabric pad 30, lie on parallel axes which, in turn, are parallel to the fore-and-aft axis 10.

The second folding step is achieved by rotating the two chassis halves 2,3 with respect to the axis 10, such that the two halves 15,16 of the backrest 14 are pivoted about the respective joints 19,20, and the associated joints hidden behind the fabric tab 30, whereby the pushchair 1 assumes its closed condition, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The connection between the points 24,25 and the arm portions 4,5 permit their rotation about an axis parallel to the axis 10 but are restrained from moving fore and aft.

The position of the over-centre linkage, in the closed condition of the pushchair 1, is clearly shown in Fig. 4, as is the arrangement of the two shopping bags 31 in Fig. 5.

It will be appreciated that the over-centre linkage 22 maintains the backrest 14 in the desired position, with the pushchair 1 in its open condition, whereby the two halves 2,3 of the chassis are maintained rigidly in their proper positions with respect to the axis 10 and, also, the backrest 14.

Furthermore, it will also be appreciated that the shopping bags 31 being located on each side of the pushchair 1 do not reduce the stability of the pushchair in its open condition and, if anything, increase such stability.

Claims (18)

1. A foldable pushchair comprising: (a) a chassis consisting of two sections which are movable laterally with respect to each other and with respect to a fore-and-aft axis of the pushchair between apart and together positions corresponding respectively to open and closed conditions of the pushchair; (b) a foldable backrest frame which is connected between the two chassis sections so that it can be moved between a generally upright position, in which it is unfolded and maintains the chassis sections in their apart positions, and a folded position in which it lies generally parallel to the fore-and-aft axis of the pushchair, thereby permitting the chassis sections to assume their together position; (c) a seat suspended from the chassis sections; and (d) releasable means for maintaining the pushchair in its open condition, wherein the backrest frame comprises a plurality of hingedtogether sections and is foldable about two parallel axes.

2. A pushchair as defined in claim 1, wherein the backrest frame has a lower end which, when the pushchair is in its open condition, extends under the seat to assist in supporting the seat.

3. A pushchair as defined in claim 2, wherein said maintaining means comprises releasable linkage means connected between the chassis and the lower end of the backrest frame.

4. A pushchair as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3 further including wheels mounted to the undersides of the chassis sections so that the pushchair in its open condition can be rolled along the ground.

5. A pushchair as defined in any preceding claim, wherein the backrest frame extends appreciably above the chassis when the pushchair is in its open condition, so that the frame can function also as a pusher handle.

6. A pushchair as defined in any preceding claim, wherein the seat comprises: (i) a seating platform of relatively rigid sections hinged together along lines extending generally parallel to the fore-and-aft axis of the pushchair; (ii) flexible side walls connecting the seating platform to the chassis sections; and (iii) a flexible rear wall connecting the seating platform to the backrest frame.

7. A pushchair as defined in claim 6, wherein the seat also comprises means for adjusting the length of the rear wall to provide a reclining position of the pushchair.

8. A pushchair as defined in claim 6 or 7, wherein the seat also comprises a flexible front extension, connected at the front of the seating platform, and means for releasably connecting the extension to fore parts of the chassis sections to provide a semi-lying position of the pushchair.

9. A pushchair as defined in claim 6, 7 or 8 further comprising seat support means mounted on the chassis and extending upwardly under the seating platform to assist in supporting the seat when the pushchair is in its open condition.

10. A pushchair as defined in any preceding claim, wherein the backrest frame is a closed loop consisting of a pair of mirror-image side members whose opposite ends are turned, a pair of upper and lower end members, and hinge means connecting the opposite ends of the end members to the opposite ends of the side members.

11. A pushchair as defined in claim 10, wherein the lower ends of the backrest frame side members extend under the seat when the pushchair is in its open condition, so that the frame members assist in supporting the seat.

12. A pushchair as defined in any preceding claim, wherein the chassis sections are pivotally connected together about a fore-and-aft axis of the chassis, the backrest frame has a lower end segment extending below the pivotal connection of the backrest to the chassis sections, and said maintaining means comprises releasable linkage means pivotally connected between the backrest frame end segment and the chassis at a location thereon in axial alignment with the chassis axis.

13. A pushchair as defined in claim 12, wherein the chassis also includes a tubular member connected between the chassis sections along the chassis axis and seat support means projecting upwardly from the tubular member to the underside of the seat, to help support the seat when the pushchair is in its open condition.

14. A foldable pushchair comprising: (A) a chassis composed of two halves which are rotatable with respect to each other and about a fore-and-aft axis of the chassis between open and closed conditions of the pushchair; (B) a backrest frame which, in the open condition of the pushchair, maintains the two chassis halves apart and, in the closed condition of the pushchair, is folded about two parallel axes lying parallel with respect to the fore-and-aft axis of the chassis; and (C) releasable means for maintaining the pushchair in its open condition.

1 5. A pushchair as defined in claim 14, wherein the backrest frame is pivotally connected to the chassis so that it can rotate with respect to the chassis about another axis lying generally perpendicular to the fore-and-aft axis of the chassis when the pushchair is adjusted between its open and closed conditions.

1 6. A pushchair as defined in claim 15, wherein said maintaining means comprises an over-centre linkage connected to the bottom of the backrest frame and to a point on the chassis which is in axial alignment with the fore-and-aft axis of the chassis.

17. A pushchair as defined in claim 14, 15 or 16 further include a seat suspended from the chassis halves and, wherein the bottom of the backrest frame extends under and assists in supporting the seat when the pushchair is in its open condition.

18. A pushchair as defined in any preceding claim further including a flexible bag detachably secured to at least one side of the chassis, so that the bag does not inteifere with the folding of the pushchair.

1 9. A foldable pushchair substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.