AU2011101476A4 - A stroller frame with a connecting mechanism for detachably installing a second seat - Google Patents

Abstract

Attorney Docket No. Abstract of the Disclosure A stroller frame with a connecting mechanism for detachably installing a second seat has a connecting mechanism and a latch mechanism. The stroller frame has first seat, and the connecting mechanism includes a pivot mount and a guiding member which mounted on stroller frame. The second seat is used to be detachably mounted on the stroller frame behind the first seat by the connecting mechanism, and the latch mechanism is installed between the stroller frame and the second seat for locking and unlocking the second seat on and from the stroller frame. -9- 2e 10 615 .- -13 4 100 e .*'16 15 ,'14 . . 14 32 - 44 .' 5 .3 44 41 * 42 42 6 46 31)

Description

Attorney Docket No. A STROLLER FRAME WITH A CONNECTING MECHANISM FOR DETACHABLY INSTALLING A SECOND SEAT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION [001] The present invention relates generally to a stroller frame equipped with a first seat and a second seat, especially to a stroller frame connected the second seat by a guiding member and a pivot mount for easy adjusting of the inclination of the second seat. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART [002] Tandem strollers are convenient for traveling two baby in a same time, however, the frame of tandems are heavy, bulky and can not be convert into a single seat of normal stroller. [003] In U.S. Patent No. 6,045,145, a tandem stroller is structured by attaching a second seat to the front portion of a single seat stroller. As the second seat of said tandem stroller cannot be folded simultaneously with the single seat stroller, it should be detached from the single seat stroller before the user can convert the tandem stroller to a compact size for storage. Further, when the second seat is mounted in front of the first seat, the occupant of the first seat cannot be moved out from the stroller, therefore the user is forced to detach the second seat from the single seat stroller very often in a single trip. [004] In WO 28,127,128 disclosed a similar structure of tandem stroller, which is featuring by having a second seat mounted in front of the first seat. As the inclination angle of the second seat of said tandem stroller cannot be adjusted according to the needs, cannot provide sufficient comfort the occupant. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [005] To solve the mentioned problem, the present invention provides a stroller frame with a connecting mechanism for detachably installing a second seat, and has a connecting mechanism and a latch mechanism. The stroller frame has first seat, and the connecting mechanism includes a pivot mount and a guiding member which mounted on stroller frame. The second seat is used to be detachably mounted on the stroller frame behind the first seat by the connecting mechanism, and the latch mechanism is installed between the stroller frame and the second seat for locking and unlocking the second seat on and from the stroller frame. -1- Attorney Docket No. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [006] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: [007] FIG I is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the stroller frame with a connecting mechanism for detachably installing a second seat according to the present invention. [008] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the stroller frame with the angle adjustable second seat of the embodiment. [009] FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing the second seat being detached from the stroller frame. [010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rear strut showing the key features of the pivot mount and guiding member both are mounted thereon. [011] FIG. 5 is a side view showing the stroller frame and the second seat, wherein the second seat is folded to a detachable position. [012] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of the second seat according to the present invention. [013] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the features on the pivot mount and support member of the second seat. [014] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an operation for detaching the support member from the pivot mount. [015] FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the pivot mount and the support member of FIG. 7 by viewing from another direction. [016] FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the pivot mount and the support member of FIG. 8 by viewing from another direction. [017] FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view schematically showing the support member of FIG. 10 being in a released position and ready for detaching from the pivot mount. [018] FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the features on the backrest positioning relative to the guiding member and rear strut. [019] FIG. 13 is a side view schematically showing the adjustment of the second seat by repositioning the backrest relative to the guiding member. -2- Attorney Docket No. [020] FIG. 14 is a partially enlarged perspective view schematically showing the features of the backrest relative and guiding member. [021] FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged perspective view schematically showing the way to engage the backrest to guiding member. [022] FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view showing some other features of the guiding member. [023] FIG. 17 is a partially enlarged perspective view schematically showing a safety mechanism mounted with the guiding member. [024] FIG. 18 is a partially enlarged perspective view schematically showing the operation of the safety mechanism. [025] FIG. 19 is a partially enlarged perspective view schematically showing the operation of the safety mechanism that could permit the backrest to depart from the guiding member. [026] FIG. 20 is a partially enlarged perspective view schematically showing another safety mechanism mounted on the upper end of the support member that prevents the lower end thereof detached from the pivot mount. [027] FIG. 21 is a partially enlarged perspective view schematically showing the safety mechanism of FIG. 20 permits the lower end of the support member to detach from the pivot mount, if the second seat has been folded into the detachable position thereof. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [028] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention; examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. [029] Referring to FIGS. I and 6, an embodiment of the stroller frame 10 with a connecting mechanism 3 for detachably installing a second seat 4, includes at least a latch mechanism 6. [030] The connecting mechanism 3, including a pivot mount 31 and a guiding member 35 mounted on stroller frame 10. [031] The stroller frame 10 has first seat 2, and the connecting mechanism 3 includes a pivot mount 31 and a guiding member 35 which mounted on stroller frame 10. The second seat 4 is used to be detachably mounted on the stroller frame 10 behind the first seat 2 by the connecting mechanism 3, and the latch mechanism 6 is installed between the stroller frame 10 -3- Attorney Docket No. and the second seat 4 for locking and unlocking the second seat 4 on and from the stroller frame 10. [032] In more detailed, the stroller frame 10 may include a front strut 11, a rear strut 12 pivoted with the front strut 11, a push rod 13 connected with the front strut 11, a first seat 2 connected with the stroller frame 10, a pivot mount 31 and a guiding member 35 both mounted on the rear strut 12. [033] The second seat 4 is made by a backrest 41 and a support member 42. The backrest 41 is slidably and positionally connected with the guiding member 35, and the support member 42 is pivoted between the backrest 41 and the pivot mount 31. By reposition the backrest 41 relative to the guiding member 35, user can adjust the inclination angle of second seat 4. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 21, the backrest 41 is design to have to rotate to a detachable position 300 as being very close to the support member 42 before the second seat 4 can be manipulated to detach from the guiding member 35 and the pivot mount 31. [034] The push rod 13 may connected with the front strut 11 by a lockable joint 15. By manipulating the lockable joint 15, the stroller frame 10 may have a use position 100 and a folded position 200. A link rod 14 is pivotally interconnected the push rod 13 and the rear strut 12 for carrying the rear strut 12 to rotate to close and away from the front strut 11. [035] The first seat 2 may be embodied as a car seat, baby carrier or a seat frame covered with a layer of fabric material. The stroller frame 10 is preferably included a socket 16 for detachably connecting the first seat 2 either facing forward or backward, under the user's choice. [036] At the lower end of the rear strut 12, a rear wheel set 17 is mounted. For enhance the strength of the structure, a rigid cross bar 47 may be implemented for interconnecting two the rear struts 12 of the stroller frame 10. [037] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, the distal end of the backrest 41 has a retractable pin 52 for selectively positioning within the guiding member 35. The guiding member 35 has a plurality of pin holes 37 for engaging with the retractable pin 52 so as to position the backrest 41 relative to the guiding member 35. The retractable pin 52 is biased by a resilient member 54 toward the guiding member 35 so as to engage retractable pin 52 with one of the pin holes 37 automatically. For enhancing the strength of the backrest 41, a cross rod 46 may implemented to interconnect the lower sections of the backrest 41. -4- Attorney Docket No. [038] Referring to FIG. 6, the backrest 41 may have a manipulate mechanism 5 for releasing the retractable pin 52 from one of the pin holes 37 so as to adjust the backrest 41 to new inclination angles. The manipulate mechanism 5 includes a driving member 51 operatively mounted on top of the backrest 41, and associated with the retractable pin 52 by a connecting member 53 and a driven member 55 to pull the retractable pin 52 to move against a resilient member 54 which capable of keeping the retractable pin 52 to engage with one of the pin holes 37. [039] Referring to FIGS. 7 to 12, the support member 42 may detachably connect with the pivot mount 31 by a hook member 45, and the pivot mount 31 may have an anchor portion 33 for anchoring by the hook member 45. Preferably, the support member 42 may equipped with a latch mechanism 6 for keeping the hook member 45 to anchor on the anchor portion 33. [040] The latch mechanism 6 includes a spring-biased member 61 and a release mechanism 63. The spring-biased member 61 is movably mounted near the hook member 45 for releasably closing the hook member 45; and the release mechanism 63 is associated with the spring-biased member 61 for opening the hook member 45. Further, the spring-biased member 61 is preferably formed with a beveled face for pushing by the anchor portion thereby opening the hook member 45 without manipulating the release mechanism 63. [041] It would be appreciated, as the embodiment of FIG. 2, a hooked sliding member 65 may be operatively mounted on the support member 42 for pulling or pushing the spring-biased member 61 to open the hook member 45 thereby detaching the second seat 4 from the stroller frame 10. [042] For smoothing the sliding reciprocally within the guiding member 35, the backrest 41 may further pivotally connected a sliding element 43 at two distal ends thereof, as shown in FIGS. 6, 14 and 15. Preferably, the sliding element 43 is embodied as a roller or small wheel to diminish the friction to the guiding member 35. Referring to fig. 13, when the sliding element 43 repositioned along the sliding element 43, the backrest 41 changes its inclination relative to the rear strut 12 as well as the stroller frame 10. [043] Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, the guiding member 35 has an opening 36 at one end for the guiding member 35 to enter therethrough. The opening 36 has a guider 34 provided with a slot 38 for pressing down the retractable pin 52 into sliding element 43 before the sliding element 43 actually get into the guiding member 35. [044] Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, the guiding member 35 has an active length 32 provided with the pin holes 37 for positioning the sliding element 43. For preventing the -5- Attorney Docket No. sliding element 43 sliding outward and leave the range of the active length 32, a guarding mechanism 7 may be implemented near the opening 36. [045] Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, the guarding mechanism 7 includes a stopper 71 biased by a resilient element 72 and protruded into the guiding member 35, a driving element 73 formed with a beveled face 74 for pushing the stopper 71 down thereby permitting the sliding element 43 to enter and leave the active length 32. [046] Referring to FIGS. 18, 19 and 7 to 12 again, a safety mechanism 8 mounted on a pivot portion 44 at the upper end of the support member 42 for preventing the lower end of the support member 42 detached from the pivot mount 31. The safety mechanism 8 may be formed integrally with the pivot portion 44, includes a slider 82 movably and retractively received in the upper end of the support member 42 and a fender flange 81 providing a fender range 83 relative to the active length 32 to stop the slider 82 from protruding out from the upper end of the support member 42. The safety mechanism 8 has also a free range 84 without the fender flange 81 for permitting the slider 82 from protruding out from the upper end of the support member 42 [047] The latch mechanism 6 may further include an associate member 64 which interconnects the slider 82 and the spring-biased member 61. The associate member 64 may include a rigid or flexible stem 66 for pulling the spring-biased member 61 against a spring 62 thereby opening the hook member 45 and detach the lower end of the support member 42 away from the pivot mount 31. [048] The slider 82 is associated and driven by the release mechanism 63 which may including a push leg 69, a driving element 67 formed with a beveled face 68 slidably abutting against the push leg 69. When the push leg 69 is pushed inward, the driving element 67 and the slider 82 are forced to moving upward thereby pulling the spring-biased member 61 to open the hook member 45. [049] While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, those skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications are possible that will achieve the same goals by substantially the same system, device or method, and where those systems, devices or methods still fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention disclosed. -6-

Claims (13)

1. A stroller frame with a connecting mechanism for detachably installing a second seat, comprising at least: a stroller frame 10, having a front strut 11, a rear strut 12 pivoted with the front strut 11, a push rod 13 connected with the front strut 11, a first seat 2 connected with the stroller frame 10; a connecting mechanism 3, including a pivot mount 31 and a guiding member 35 mounted on stroller frame 10; a second seat 4, used to be detachably mounted on the stroller frame 10 by the connecting mechanism 3 behind the first seat 2, and; a latch mechanism 6, installed between the stroller frame 10 and the second seat 4 for locking and unlocking the second seat 4 on and from the stroller frame 10.

2. The stroller frame with a connecting mechanism for detachably installing a second seat of claim 1, wherein the connecting mechanism 3 is mounted on the rear strut 12 of the stroller frame 10.

3. The stroller frame with a connecting mechanism for detachably installing a second seat of claim 1, wherein the second seat 4 has a backrest 41 slidably and positionally connected with the guiding member 35, and a support member 42 pivoted between the backrest 41 and the pivot mount 3.

4. The stroller frame with a connecting mechanism for detachably installing a second seat of claim 3, wherein the backrest 41 has two distal ends each equipped with a sliding element 43 for sliding in the guiding member 35.

5. The stroller frame with a connecting mechanism for detachably installing a second seat of claim 3, wherein the support member 42 has two distal ends each equipped with a hook member 45 which may detachably connect with the pivot mount 31.

6. The stroller frame with a connecting mechanism for detachably installing a second seat of claim 5, wherein the support member 42 is equipped with a latch mechanism 6 for keeping the hook member 45 to anchor on the anchor portion 33.

7. The stroller frame with a connecting mechanism for detachably installing a second seat of claim 6, wherein the latch mechanism 6 includes: -7- Attorney Docket No. a spring-biased member 61, movably mounted near the hook member 45 for releasably closing the hook member 45; and a release mechanism 63 associated with the spring-biased member 61 for opening the hook member 45.

8. The stroller frame with a connecting mechanism for detachably installing a second seat of claim 7, wherein the spring-biased member 61 is formed with a beveled face for pushing by the anchor portion thereby opening the hook member 45 without manipulating the release mechanism 63.

9. The stroller frame with a connecting mechanism for detachably installing a second seat of claim 7, further includes a hooked sliding member 65 operatively mounted on the support member 42 for driving the spring-biased member 61 to open the hook member 45 for detaching the second seat 4 from the stroller frame 10.

10. The stroller frame with a connecting mechanism for detachably installing a second seat of claim 7, further includes a safety mechanism 8 mounted on a pivot portion 44 at the upper end of the support member 42 for preventing the lower end of the support member 42 detached from the pivot mount 31.

11. The stroller frame with a connecting mechanism for detachably installing a second seat of claim 1, wherein the guiding member 35 has an opening 36 at one end for the guiding member 35 to enter therethrough.

12. The stroller frame with a connecting mechanism for detachably installing a second seat of claim 11, wherein the second seat 4 has a backrest 41 slidably and positionally connected with the guiding member 35, and a support member 42 pivoted between the backrest 41 and the pivot mount 3, wherein the backrest 41 has two distal ends each equipped with a sliding element 43 for sliding in the guiding member 35, and wherein the guiding member 35 has an active length 32 provided with a plurality of pin holes 37 for positioning the sliding element

43. -8-