AU2002227799A1

AU2002227799A1 - Angularly adjustable coupling

Info

Publication number: AU2002227799A1
Application number: AU2002227799A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Alan Leslie Bidwell
Original assignee: IGC Dorel Pty Ltd
Current assignee: IGC Dorel Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2001-02-09
Filing date: 2002-02-06
Publication date: 2003-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 2022-02-06

Description

ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE COUPLING

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an angularly adjustable coupling of the kind utilised to interconnect tubular components in a manner providing for the components to be selectively releasably latched at different angular positions with respect to each other.

Background Art

A particular application of couplings of the kind in question is to prams, strollers or pushers and similar push-along vehicles for transporting babies and young children. These vehicles typically include an inclined inverted U-shaped handle assembly of tubular components. In order to accommodate carers of different heights, and to maximise their comfort when pushing the vehicle and to minimise back strain, it is known to provide an adjustable coupling between the handle assembly and the main frame of the vehicle, at each side of the vehicle. One form of this coupling is a pair of interengaged toothed annular members that may be temporarily disengaged by pressing a push button against a return spring to allow relative rotation of the parts.

These angularly adjustable couplings typically comprise a pair of rotatably linked components each made up of an assembly of plastics mouldings. A problem that has come to light in locations of more extreme climate is sudden structural failure of one of these assemblies, resulting in structural collapse or complete separation of the parts. In some cases, this structural collapse of one coupling has given rise to strains and stresses in the other coupling which have caused a simultaneous or near simultaneous failure of the other coupling. The result has been complete separation of the handle assembly from the rest of the vehicle, which can of course have very serious consequences depending upon the location of the vehicle. It is an objective of the present invention to at least reduce the likelihood of complete separation occurring at angularly adjustable couplings of the kind discussed.

Summary of the Invention

The invention accordingly provides an angularly adjustable coupling including:

a pair of socket or plug members adapted to engage and be fixed to respective tubular components;

means linking said socket or plug members whereby they are relatively moveable to a plurality of positions having different angular relationships between the tubular components;

wherein said socket or plug members are formed in one or more plastics materials and said coupling further includes an elongate reinforcing means arranged so that, when the coupling is fixed to said respective tubular components, the reinforcing means is fixed to and links both the socket or plug members and further links the tubular components,

whereby, on any structural failure of the socket or plug members or of said linking means, the tubular components remain connected together.

Preferably, the linking means includes means to selectively releasably latch said socket or plug members at each of said positions.

Preferably, the elongate reinforcing means includes two or more components hingedly connected together at a hinge point so as to be relatively pivotably adjustable according to the angular relationship between the tubular components.

In a preferred form, the reinforcing means comprises a pair of metal plates hinged together coaxially with the axis of angular adjustment between the tubular components. Preferably, the hinge point is fixed to at least one of the said plug or socket members. Advantageously, respective common fasteners are employed to fix the reinforcing means, eg. the respective plates, simultaneously both to a respective socket or plug member and a respective tubular component.

Preferably, said socket or plug members include plastics mouldings that include formations to accommodate and locate the reinforcing means.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an angularly adjustable coupling according to an embodiment of the invention, shown joining a pair of tubular frame components; and

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the coupling from another direction and orientation.

Preferred Embodiments

The illustrated angularly adjustable coupling 10 is shown in situ for interconnecting respective tubular frame components 12, 14. Typically, these tubular components would be part of the main frame and handle frame respectively of a stroller or pram and there would be respective similar couplings 10 on opposite sides of the stroller or pram.

The principal body members of the coupling are indicated at 20, 30. Each comprises a generally tubular socket parts 22, 32 of annular cross-section adapted to engage by receiving the respective tubular components 12, 14, and mutually complementary annular parts 24, 34. Annular parts 24, 34 have opposed internal recesses 25, 35 defined about their cylindrical peripheries by generally V- shaped axially aligned teeth. In Figure 2, only the teeth 36 of annular 34 are visible. The annular parts 24, 34 are assembled together for rotation on a pivot pin 40 and are normally locked together against rotation by a pinion 50 mounted on a boss 52 in cavities 25, 35.

Pinion 50 is moveable axially on boss 52 between a first position, to which it is biased by helical compression spring 54 and in which pinion teeth 51 engage teeth 36, on both annular parts, and a second position wholly within cavity 35 in which the pinion teeth do not engage the teeth of annular part 24. In this latter position, the body members 20, 30 are mutually rotatable, by hand manipulation, on the axis of pin 40 to adjust the relative angular relationship of tubular components 12, 14. To allow this adjustment, pinion 50 is axially pushed from its latching position by a coaxially moveable hollow push button 60 which is exposed to the exterior of annular part 24. Push button 60 has a lipped annular rim 62 that engages the endface of pinion 50. The lip retains the push button in an opening 64 in annular part 24, in which it is slidably keyed by engagement between a transverse web 28 of annular part 24 and a pair of longitudinal slots 68 in push button 60. Web 28 also fixes pin 40 in position.

On the inside faces of body members 20, 30 - that is, in the pram or stroller, on the sides that face the other coupling - the plastics mouldings have ridges 69 that define shallow seats for respective steel plates 72, 73. It will have been noted that the axis of sockets 22, 32 are offset from the transverse pivot axis of pin 40. Correspondingly, the inner ends of plates 72, 73 have curved and upset segments 74, 75 so that the inner ends of the plates overlap and are pivotably fastened together coaxially with the axis of pin 40 by a secure rivet 76 that also engages annular part 34.

The other ends of plates 72, 73 have fastener apertures 80, 81 that are in register with diametrically opposed matching apertures 84, 85 in the opposite sides of the respective sockets 22, 32. When the coupling is assembled in situ, respective single fasteners extend through the plate 72 or 73, the socket 22, or 32 and the tubular frame component 12 or 14.

It will be seen that the finished assembly 70 of plates 72, 73 comprises an elongate reinforcing means arranged so that, when the coupling is fixed to the respective tubular components 12, 14, the reinforcing assembly 70 is fixed to and links both of the sockets 22, 32 and further links both of the tubular components 12, 14. If in use there is any structural failure of the body members 20, 30 or of the means linking them together for relative angular adjustment, the tubular components 12, 14 remain connected together by the reinforcing assembly. Such structural failures can occur, substantially without warning, for example, when there is a fracture in the plastics moulding or welding arising from embrittlement in a more extreme climatic environment, eg. in a very cold or very hot location. In the application under discussion, ie. a pram, stroller or other baby or child carrying vehicle, the illustrated arrangement guards against the separation of the handle assembly from the main frame assembly.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

Claims

1. An angularly adjustable coupling including:

2. An angular adjustable coupling according to claim 1 , wherein the linking means includes means to selectively releasably latch said socket or plug members at each of said positions.

3. An angular adjustable coupling according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elongate reinforcing means includes two or more components hingedly connected together at a hinge point so as to be relatively pivotably adjustable according to the angular relationship between the tubular components.

4. An angular adjustable coupling according to claim 3, wherein, the reinforcing means comprises a pair of metal plates hinged together coaxially with the axis of angular adjustment between the tubular components.

5. An angular adjustable coupling according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the hinge point is fixed to at least one of the said plug or socket members.

6. An angular adjustable coupling according to claim 5, wherein respective common fasteners are employed to fix the reinforcing means simultaneously both to a respective socket or plug member and a respective tubular component.

7. An angular adjustable coupling according to any preceding claim, wherein said socket or plug members include plastics mouldings that include formations to accommodate and locate the reinforcing means.