AU2004203118B2

AU2004203118B2 - Stroller frame

Info

Publication number: AU2004203118B2
Application number: AU2004203118A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Red Lan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-07-09
Filing date: 2004-07-09
Publication date: 2007-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 2024-07-09
Also published as: AU2004203118A1

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant/s: Actual Inventor/s: Red Lan Red Lan Address for Service is: SHELSTON IP Margaret Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 CCN: 3710000352 Attorney Code: SW Telephone No: Facsimile No.

(02) 97771111 (02) 9241 4666 Invention Title: STROLLER FRAME The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- File: 43142AUP00 500388243_1.DOC/5844 la-

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STROLLER FRAME t This invention relates to a foldable stroller frame, more particularly to a stroller frame with a locking-and-releasing assembly including a locking device and an operating lever.

oo00 5 Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common Ogeneral knowledge in the field.

Conventional foldable stroller frames normally include front and rear leg units that are connected to a joint unit, a handle unit, and a handle-connecting rod unit that is connected to the handle unit and that extends movably through the joint unit. The front leg unit and the handle-connecting rod unit are movable relative to each other between an extended position and a folded position. A locking device is provided on the stroller frame for retaining the front leg unit and the handle-connecting rod unit at the extended position.

The aforesaid locking device is disadvantageous in that unlocking of the locking device and folding of the front leg unit and the handle-connecting rod unit cannot be conducted simultaneously in a single operation.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

According to this invention, there is provided a stroller frame comprising: a leg unit; a handle-connecting rod unit that extends in a longitudinal direction and that is connected movably to said leg unit, said leg unit and said handle-connecting rod unit being movable oppositely relative to each other in the longitudinal direction between extended and folded positions; two parallel pins; a locking device including a first interlocking member that is to be provided on said handle-connecting rod unit, and -2-

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a second interlocking member that is mounted movably on said leg unit, that is engageable with said first interlocking member, and that is movable relative to said leg unit between a locking position, in which said second interlocking member engages IN releasably said first interlocking member, thereby permitting retention of said leg unit and said handle-connecting rod unit at the extended position, and an unlocking position, 00 in which said second interlocking member is disengaged from said first interlocking member; and Ca releasing device including an operating lever that is associated with said second interlocking member and that is pivoted to said leg unit in such a manner that said operating lever pivots relative to said leg unit to drive said second interlocking member to move from the locking position to the unlocking position and said leg unit and said handle-connecting rod unit are actuated simultaneously to move from the extended position toward the folded position when said operating lever is operated by an external force, thereby permitting unlocking of said locking device and folding of said leg unit and said handle-connecting rod unit to be conducted in a single operation; wherein said second interlocking member and said operating lever are pivoted to said leg unit, respectively, and are rotatable about said pins in opposite rotation directions, respectively; wherein one of said pins, to which said second interlocking member is pivoted, is disposed between said handle-connecting rod unit and the other of said pins; and wherein said operating lever has a driving end that is disposed between said pins for driving rotation of said second interlocking member, an operating end that is opposite to said driving end in a substantially transverse direction relative to the longitudinal direction, and a middle pivot portion that is disposed between said driving and operating ends and that is pivoted to said leg unit through the other of said pins.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words "comprise", "comprising", and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to".

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of the preferred embodiment of a stroller frame according to this invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view to illustrate a state where a locking device of 00 5 the preferred embodiment is disposed at a locking position; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary bottom sectional view of the preferred embodiment, (N illustrating the locking device when disposed at the locking position; iFig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view to illustrate a state where the locking device of the preferred embodiment is disposed at an unlocking position; and Figs. 6 and 7 are schematic side views to illustrate how the stroller frame is folded when the locking device is moved to the unlocking position.

Figs. 1 to 5 illustrate the preferred embodiment of a foldable stroller frame I with a locking-and-releasing assembly according to the present invention. The stroller frame 1 includes a handle unit 12, a rear leg unit 14' having a pair of rear legs 14, a front leg unit 13' having a pair of front legs 13 and a pair of joints 2, and a handle-connecting rod unit 12' connected to the handle unit 12 and having a pair of handle-connecting rods 11 that extend in a longitudinal direction and that are connected movably and respectively to the front legs 13 of the front leg unit 13' through the joints 2. The front leg unit 13' and the handle-connecting rod unit 12' are movable oppositely relative to each other in the longitudinal direction between extended and folded positions (see Figs. 1 and Each of the front legs 13 is pivoted to a respective one of the joints 2 through a first pin 211.

Each of the rear legs 14 is pivoted to a respective one of the joints 2 through a second pin 212.

The locking-and-releasing assembly includes: a locking device 3 including a first interlocking member 31' that is provided on one of the handle-connecting rods 11 of the handle-connecting rod unit 12', and a second interlocking member 34' that is mounted movably on a respective one of the joints 2 of the front leg unit 13', that is engageable with the first interlocking member 31', and that is movable relative to the front leg unit 13' between a locking position (see Fig. in which the second interlocking member 34' -4- Q) engages releasably the first interlocking member 31', thereby retaining the front leg unit 13' and the handle-connecting rod unit 12' at the extended position, and an unlocking position (see Fig. in which the second interlocking member 34' is disengaged from ID the first interlocking member 31'; and a releasing device 4 including an operating lever 41 that is associated with the second interlocking member 34' and that is pivoted to the 0respective joint 2 of the front leg unit 13' in such a manner that the operating lever 41 pivots relative to the front leg unit 13' to drive the second interlocking member 34' to move from the locking position to the unlocking position and the front leg unit 13' and the handle-connecting unit 12' are actuated simultaneously to move from the extended position toward the folded position when the operating lever 41 is operated, the operating lever 41 is moved in an upward direction see the curved arrow shown in Figs. 5 to thereby permitting unlocking of the locking device 3 and folding of the front leg unit 13' and the handle-connecting rod unit 12' to be conducted in a single operation. Referring now to Figs. 5 to 7, during the folding operation, a counter force or an upward force is required to be applied to the front leg unit 13' when a downward force see Figs. 5 to 7) is applied to the handle unit 12. The required upward force is transmitted to the front leg unit 13' by the operating lever 41 upon operation of the operating lever 41.

In this embodiment, the first interlocking member 31' includes a stud 32 that protrudes transversely from a respective one of the handle-connecting rods 11 of the handle-connecting rod unit 12'. The second interlocking member 34' includes a latch plate 34 that has a pivot end 341 pivoted to the respective joint 2 of the front leg unit 13' through a third pin 33, and a hook end 344 that is opposite to the pivot end 341 and that hooks the stud 32. A stud-mounting pin 31 extends through a respective one of the handle-connecting rods 11 of the handle-connecting rod unit 12' for mounting of the stud 32 thereon.

The latch plate 34 of the second interlocking member 34' has an end protrusion 342 that protrudes from the pivot end 341 of the latch plate 34. The operating lever 41 has a driving end 411, an operating end 412 that is opposite to the driving end 411, a middle pivot portion 413 that is disposed between the driving end 411 and the operating end 412 and that is pivoted to the respective joint 2 of the front leg unit 13' through a pivot pin 42, and a tab 4111 that projects from the driving end 411 and that presses downwardly O the end protrusion 342 of the latch plate 34 when the operating lever 41 is operated (see Figs. 3 and The releasing device 4 further includes a handgrip 45 that is integrally formed with and that extends curvedly from the operating end 412 to the driving end 411 of the operating lever 41.

00 A first urging member 43 is mounted in a ring-shaped holding member 252 formed on a respective one of the joints 12 of the front leg unit 13', and abuts against the driving end 411 of the operating lever 41 so as to restore the operating lever 41 to its normal position when the operating lever 41 is relieved from the external force. The operating l0 lever 41 is formed with a spring-retaining hole 415 adjacent to the driving end 411 of the operating lever 41 for extension of the first urging member 43 thereinto.

A second urging member 35 is mounted on the respective one of the joints 2 of the front leg unit 13', and abuts against the end protrusion 342 of the second interlocking member 43' so as to restore the second interlocking member 43' from the unlocking position to the locking position when the operating lever 41 is relieved from the external force.

Each of the joints 2 is formed with a rear groove 28 for extension of the respective one of the rear legs 14 thereinto, a middle hole 27 for extension of the respective one of the front legs 13 thereinto, and a front hole 29 for extension of the respective one of the handle-connecting rods 11 therethrough. One of the joints 2 is further formed with a latch-accommodating space 20 that receives the latch plate 34 therein and that is in spatial communication with the front hole 29. The stud 32 protrudes transversely from one of the handle-connecting rods 11 of the handle-connecting rod unit 11', which is received in the front hole 29, into the latch-accommodating space 20. The pivot end 341 of the latch plate 34 is pivoted to said one of the joints 2. Said one of the joints 2 is further formed with an upper recess 200. The end protrusion 342 of the latch plate 34 protrudes into the upper recess 200. The first and second urging members 43, 35 are mounted in the upper recess 200. The middle pivot portion 413 and the driving end 411 of the operating lever 41 are disposed in the upper recess 200.

An auxiliary locking member 17 is provided on the stroller frame 1 for locking the -6- 8 front leg unit 13' and the handle-connecting rod unit 12'. A releasing controller 121 is mounted on the handle unit 12 for releasing the front leg unit 13' and the handle- Sconnecting rod unit 12' from the auxiliary locking member 17.

With the inclusion of the releasing device 4 in the stroller frame of this invention, the aforesaid drawback associated with the prior art can be eliminated.

00 oO Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Claims

1. A stroller frame comprising: a leg unit; IN a handle-connecting rod unit that extends in a longitudinal direction and that is connected movably to said leg unit, said leg unit and said handle-connecting rod unit 0 being movable oppositely relative to each other in the longitudinal direction between _extended and folded positions; two parallel pins; a locking device including a first interlocking member that is to be provided on said handle-connecting rod unit, and a second interlocking member that is mounted movably on said leg unit, that is engageable with said first interlocking member, and that is movable relative to said leg unit between a locking position, in which said second interlocking member engages releasably said first interlocking member, thereby permitting retention of said leg unit and said handle-connecting rod unit at the extended position, and an unlocking position, in which said second interlocking member is disengaged from said first interlocking member; and a releasing device including an operating lever that is associated with said second interlocking member and that is pivoted to said leg unit in such a manner that said operating lever pivots relative to said leg unit to drive said second interlocking member to move from the locking position to the unlocking position and said leg unit and said handle-connecting rod unit are actuated simultaneously to move from the extended position toward the folded position when said operating lever is operated by an external force, thereby permitting unlocking of said locking device and folding of said leg unit and said handle-connecting rod unit to be conducted in a single operation; wherein said second interlocking member and said operating lever are pivoted to said leg unit, respectively, and are rotatable about said pins in opposite rotation directions, respectively; wherein one of said pins, to which said second interlocking member is pivoted, is disposed between said handle-connecting rod unit and the other of said pins; and wherein said operating lever has a driving end that is disposed between said pins for driving rotation of said second interlocking member, an operating end that is opposite to said -8- Qdriving end in a substantially transverse direction relative to the longitudinal direction, and a middle pivot portion that is disposed between said driving and operating ends and that is pivoted to said leg unit through the other of said pins.

2. The stroller frame of claim 1, further comprising a first urging member mounted on said leg unit and abutting against said operating lever so as to restore said operating 0lever to its normal position when said operating lever is relieved from the external force. O

3. The stroller frame of claim 2, further comprising a second urging member mounted on said leg unit and abutting against said second interlocking member so as to O Srestore said second interlocking member from the unlocking position to the locking position when said operating lever is relieved from the external force.

4. The stroller frame of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first interlocking member includes a stud that protrudes transversely from said handle- connecting rod unit, said second interlocking member including a latch plate that has a pivot end pivoted to said leg unit, and a hook end that is opposite to said pivot end and that hooks said stud.

The stroller frame of claim 4, wherein said latch plate of said second interlocking member has an end protrusion that protrudes from said pivot end of said latch plate, said operating lever further having a tab that projects from said driving end and that presses downwardly said end protrusion of said latch plate when said operating lever is operated.

6. The stroller frame of claim 4, wherein said leg unit includes a pair of front legs and a pair of joints, said handle-connecting rod unit including a pair of handle-connecting rods, each of said joints being formed with a middle hole for extension of a respective one of said front legs thereinto, and a front hole for extension of a respective one of said handle-connecting rods therethrough, one of said joints being further formed with a latch-accommodating space that receives said latch plate therein and that is in spatial communication with said front hole, said stud protruding transversely from one of said handle-connecting rods of said handle-connecting rod unit, which is received in said front hole, into said latch-accommodating space, said pivot end of said latch plate being pivoted to said one of said joints, said one of said joints being further formed with an upper recess, said end protrusion of said latch plate protruding into said upper recess, -9- O said first and second urging members being mounted in said upper recess, said middle pivot portion and said driving end of said operating lever being disposed in said upper recess.

7. The stroller frame of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said releasing device further includes a handgrip that is integrally formed with and that extends curvedly from 00 said operating end to said driving end of said operating lever.

8. A stroller frame being substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or Sexamples. (Ni