CN111263717B

CN111263717B - Foldable trolley

Info

Publication number: CN111263717B
Application number: CN201880068569.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 克里斯托斯·沃特西斯; 约瑟芬·沃特西斯
Original assignee: Didofi Ltd
Current assignee: Didofi Ltd
Priority date: 2017-09-13
Filing date: 2018-09-10
Publication date: 2023-01-13
Anticipated expiration: 2038-09-10
Also published as: AU2018332132A1; EP3681782A2; WO2019053409A3; WO2019053409A2; GB2569089B; GB2569089A; CN111263717A; GB201714731D0

Abstract

A foldable trolley (10) comprising: a main frame (12) for supporting the child receiving device; a rear wheel assembly coupled to the main frame (12) and comprising an elongate support leg (20) carrying a rear wheel (32) at a first end and pivotally coupled to the first end of the main frame (12) at a second end; a front wheel assembly comprising a front wheel (28); a linear drive mechanism (25) for effecting folding and unfolding of the trolley (10) upon actuation, the linear drive mechanism (25) comprising a linear actuator (24) coupled to a motor and selectively linearly movable by an actuation device (24); and a linkage assembly coupled between the rear wheel assembly and the main frame (12), the linkage assembly comprising a first link arm (16) pivotally coupled to the support leg (20) at a location along the length of the support leg and a second link arm (13) pivotally coupled to the main frame (12) at a location along the length of the main frame, the first link arm (16) and the second link arm (13) being connected together by a pivot joint (18); wherein a linear actuator (24) extends from the front wheel assembly to the pivot point (18) between the first link arm (16) and the second link arm (13) and is configured to move in a direction away from the front wheel assembly to fold the cart (10) and in a direction toward the front wheel assembly to unfold the cart (10) for use when actuated.

Description

Foldable handcart

Technical Field

The invention relates to a foldable trolley. The invention is particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, concerned with a foldable trolley having an automatic folding mechanism. The invention also relates to a collapsible bassinet for use in the collapsible pushchair.

Background

Collapsible carts are well known in the art, particularly when a user may be traveling or when the cart is not being used and is therefore stored. Such carts typically include a manual mechanism that requires the user to manually complete several steps of transitioning the cart between the fully folded and fully unfolded configurations. Typically, such a step would require both hands of the user in order to be successfully completed. This is awkward and frustrating for the user, especially if they also have a child that may wander away during the procedure or an infant that needs to be held. There is also a risk of: the steps may not have been successfully completed and thus the cart may undesirably collapse or open, potentially posing a hazard to the user or their child. Even when in the fully folded configuration, the wheels and handlebars of the folded trolley are prone to undesirable protrusion and movement, which means that there is a risk of damage to the trolley when attempting to transport or store the trolley.

Several attempts to improve foldable trolleys are known, in particular the mechanisms by which they are folded. US 2008/0211206 discloses strollers having one or more components that can be moved between two or more desired positions by a drive mechanism, such as a stroller having one or more components that can be automatically moved by a drive mechanism between an operating position (for use of the stroller) and a collapsed position (for compact storage and transport of the stroller). It is therefore known to provide a drive mechanism which will actuate the trolley between the two configurations without excessive input from the user. However, the drive mechanism required to achieve this particular method of folding the trolley must be rather high powered, as the drive mechanism pulls against a number of different forces. In particular, because the drive mechanism pulls the frame assembly, leg supports, link arms, and draws the foot toward itself during the folding motion, the motor requires a significant amount of power to overcome all of the conflicting forces. The required motor is therefore rather large and therefore rather heavy. This makes the trolley cumbersome and difficult to manage, so it does not overcome the problem of allowing the user to easily handle the trolley.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of aspects of the present invention to address at least some of these problems, and, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a foldable wheelbarrow, comprising:

-a main frame for supporting the child receiving means;

-a rear wheel assembly coupled to a main frame, the rear wheel assembly comprising an elongate support leg carrying a wheel at a first end and pivotably coupled to the first end of the main frame at a second end;

-a front wheel assembly comprising front wheels;

-a linear drive mechanism for effecting folding and unfolding of the trolley upon actuation, the linear drive mechanism comprising a linear actuator coupled to a motor and selectively linearly movable by an actuation device; and

-a linkage assembly coupled between the rear wheel assembly and the main frame, the linkage assembly including a first link arm pivotally coupled to the support leg at a location along the length of the support leg and a second link arm pivotally coupled to the main frame at a location along the length of the main frame, the first link arm and the second link arm being connected together by a pivot joint;

wherein a linear actuator extends from the front wheel assembly to the pivot point between the first link arm and the second link arm and is configured to move in a direction away from the front wheel assembly to fold the stroller and in a direction toward the front wheel assembly to unfold the stroller for use when actuated.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the trolley may further comprise a disengagement mechanism between the motor and the linear actuator, which disengagement mechanism may be configured to selectively disengage the linear actuator for selectively manually folding and unfolding the trolley frame in use.

Optionally, the front wheels may be pivotally connected to the front wheel assembly by a pivot hinge, which may be configured to allow the front wheels to pivot towards and away from the rear wheel assembly in use. The pivot hinge may be coupled by a connector to a linear drive mechanism that may cause pivotal movement of the front wheels toward the rear wheel assembly when the stroller frame is folded and away from the rear wheel assembly when the stroller frame is unfolded.

In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the motor may be electrically powered by the power source. Alternatively, the power source may be a rechargeable power source.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the rear wheel assembly may further comprise a generator, wherein the rechargeable power source is electrically coupled to the generator.

Optionally, the main frame may include a handlebar. The actuating means for the motor of the linear drive mechanism may be located in the handlebar. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the actuation means may be a button. Alternatively, the actuation means may be a switch.

In one exemplary embodiment, the front wheel assembly may further include a footrest.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the main frame may include a pair of receptacles for receiving a child receiving device. Optionally, the stroller may further comprise a child receiving device comprising an attachment device configured to removably attach said child receiving device to a main frame of the stroller.

Furthermore, foldable trolleys are often intended to be trolleys with seat-type trolleys (as opposed to cradle-type trolleys), and therefore they only consider those users having children that are large enough to sit in such trolleys, which means that users with young infants are not suitable for choosing a foldable trolley. Some cradle type carts, such as the cart disclosed in US 2007/0075525, have some collapsibility, but cannot be collapsed into a fully collapsed configuration simply due to the fact that: bassinets tend to provide a more rigid structure with the desire to provide improved comfort and safety for the infant, while sacrificing portability of the stroller itself. This document discloses that the bassinet can be removed in order to replace it with a different seat and/or to collapse the frame of the trolley, but the bassinet itself still occupies a considerable amount of space. Therefore, this does not really solve the problems of saving storage space when the cart is not used and making it easier for the user to ride a public transport means (e.g., a bus).

It is an object of aspects of the present invention to address at least some of these problems, and according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a foldable wheelbarrow, comprising:

-a main frame for supporting an interchangeable child receiving device, the main frame comprising a releasable socket;

-a front wheel assembly;

-a linear drive mechanism for enabling folding and unfolding of the trolley upon actuation, the linear drive mechanism comprising a linear actuator coupled to a motor and selectively linearly movable by an actuation means;

-a linkage assembly coupled between the rear wheel assembly and the main frame, the linkage assembly including a first link arm pivotally coupled to the support leg at a location along the length of the support leg and a second link arm pivotally coupled to the main frame at a location along the length of the main frame, the first link arm and the second link arm being connected together by a pivot joint; and

-a child receiving device comprising a foldable bassinet having releasable attachment means for removable insertion into the socket of the main frame;

the bassinet includes a base panel, a rim frame, collapsible side walls, and pull tabs for enabling folding and unfolding of the collapsible side walls upon actuation.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the pulling tab comprises fastening means at two different positions along the length of the pulling tab.

Optionally, the collapsible wall of the bassinet may further include fastening points on the outer surface of the bassinet near the base.

The fastening means may comprise male snap fastener halves and the fastening points may comprise female snap fastener halves. Alternatively, the fastening means and said fastening points may comprise hook and loop fasteners.

According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the bassinet may further include an extendable canopy having a pocket mounted on an inner surface thereof. Optionally, the bag may have a viewing window therein and a closable opening along one side for receiving a mobile device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a collapsible bassinet for use with a collapsible trolley, comprising a removable attachment device for removably attaching the bassinet to a trolley in use, the bassinet further comprising a base panel, a rim frame, collapsible side walls and a pull tab for enabling folding and unfolding of the collapsible side walls upon actuation.

Alternatively, the base plate may be constructed of a rigid material.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the pulling tab may comprise fastening means at two different positions along the length of the pulling tab.

The fastening means may comprise male snap fastener halves and the fastening points comprise female snap fastener halves. Alternatively, the fastening means and said fastening points may comprise hook and loop fasteners.

According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the bassinet may further include an extendable canopy having a pocket in an interior surface thereof. Optionally, the bag may have a viewing window therein and a closable opening along one side for receiving a mobile device.

Drawings

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a stroller frame according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic front perspective view of the cart frame of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is a schematic top perspective view of a caster on the cart frame of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a linear drive mechanism for the cart frame and cart of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the linear drive mechanism of the cart frame of FIG. 1, shown in a folded configuration;

FIG. 5 is a schematic close-up view of the linear drive mechanism of the cart frame of FIG. 1, shown in a folded configuration;

fig. 6 is a schematic front perspective view of a detachment system for a trolley according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7 is a schematic front perspective view of the detachment system of fig. 6, shown in an unlocked configuration;

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of a seat lift system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic cross-sectional views of the seat lift system of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a seat recliner system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

11A and 11B are schematic cross-sectional rear and side views of the seat recliner system of FIG. 10;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are schematic side views of a canopy for use with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 13 is a schematic side view of a canopy frame for use in the canopy of fig. 12A and 12B;

FIG. 14 is a schematic rear view of the canopy of FIGS. 12A and 12B;

FIG. 15 is a schematic side view of a canopy for use with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a schematic side view of a canopy including a pouch for use with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a schematic front view of the bag of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a schematic rear view of the bag of FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 is a schematic top perspective view of a bassinet for use in one exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 20 is a schematic side perspective view of the cradle frame of the cradle of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a schematic bottom perspective view of the bassinet frame of FIG. 20;

fig. 22A-22D are schematic top perspective views of the bassinet frame of fig. 20, showing sequential steps in a folding and opening series of operations.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is provided a trolley frame, indicated generally at 10, for a trolley, which is constructed from a plurality of hollow tubular frame members. Each frame member is pivotally joined to the other and is made of a lightweight but strong material. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, when the cart is in the open configuration, two parallel outermost frame members (hereinafter referred to as main frame members 12) extend in a first diagonal direction. The main frame members 12 are spaced apart from each other to define a space therebetween in which a child receiving device such as a seat or a bassinet can be fitted. The mechanism for assembling the child receiving device will be described in more detail below. The main frame member 12 may include two

tubular sections

12a, 12b, the two

tubular sections

12a, 12b telescopically engaging such that the first section 12a is slidably received within the second section 12 b. In this way, the main frame member 12 is adjustable in length.

At a first end of the main frame members 12, the main frame members 12 are connected together by means of a handlebar 14. The handlebar 14 may be made of the same material as the frame members, or may be plastic, or covered in a foam, fabric, leather, or rubber material, and the invention is not intended to be limited in this respect.

The main frame members 12 are connected together at a second point along approximately two thirds of the length of the main frame members 12 from the handlebar 14. A generally "U" shaped bar providing a first link arm 16 is pivotally connected between the main frame members 12. The first link arm 16 is also pivotally connected to the second link arm 13.

Referring additionally to fig. 2A of the drawings, casters 11 may be provided along the length of the main frame 12. The castor 11 protrudes beyond the circumference of the main frame member 12 so that when the trolley frame is folded, the castor 11 abuts the other frame members of the trolley frame and allows smooth movement between the two frame members. This is described in more detail below with respect to fig. 4 and 5 of the drawings.

With additional reference to fig. 3 of the drawings, a pivot hinge 18 is provided at the second end of the main frame member 12. A pivot hinge 18 pivotally couples each main frame member 12 with a corresponding elongate support leg 20. When the trolley is oriented for use, the support legs 20 extend diagonally away from the pivot hinge 18 parallel to each other and are joined together by a central bar 22 extending generally horizontally between the two leg members 20. The support legs 20 extend beyond the central rod and terminate at distal ends. The support leg 20 is also pivotally connected to the second link arm 13 at a point near the pivot hinge 18. The central rod 22 and the first link arm are connected by a linear actuator 24.

The linear actuator includes a fixed outer tube 24a linearly connected with an inner tube 24b (shown in fig. 4 and 5). The inner tube 24b and the outer tube 24a are slidably movable relative to each other. The inner tube 24b and the outer tube 24a are communicably coupled by a linear drive mechanism 25. The center rod 22 is fixedly coupled to the outer tube 24a, while the first link arm 16 is fixedly coupled to the inner tube 24b.

The main frame member 12, the support legs 20, and the first and

second link arms

13, 16 form a linkage assembly that allows the foldable wagon to smoothly transition from a first open configuration (as shown in fig. 1-3 of the drawings) to a folded configuration (as shown in fig. 4 and 5 of the drawings) during use. The linkage assembly is specifically designed to reduce the force on the linear actuator 24, as will now be described in greater detail.

The linear actuator 24, and in particular the outer tube 24a, extends beyond the central rod 22 away from the first link arm 16. At the distal end of linear actuator 24, a foot pedal 26 incorporates two front wheels 28. These wheels 27 may be of any suitable type known in the art, and the invention is not intended to be limited in this respect. Preferably, however, the wheel may comprise a rubber tyre and a plurality of spokes. A hydraulic system may be present in the connection between wheel 28 and foot pedals 26 to increase the comfort of the child or infant in the stroller and also to increase maneuverability of the stroller. Wheel 28 is mounted to footboard 26 by a pivot 30 so that the wheel can fold back (i.e., toward a rear wheel 32, which will be described in more detail later) when in use.

The pivot point 30 is communicatively coupled to the linear drive mechanism 25 by an elongated connector 34. The connector 34 may include a bowden cable or similar mechanism to transfer linear motion from the linear drive mechanism 25 to the pivot point 30. Those skilled in the art will know of suitable mechanisms for this purpose and the invention is not intended to be limited in this respect. Also present within the foot pedal is a mechanism connecting the two pivot points 30 which converts the linear actuation motion of the linear drive mechanism 25 into rearward and forward pivoting motion of the front wheel 28 when the cart is oriented for use. In use, when the linear drive mechanism 25 causing the frame 10 to fold or unfold is activated, the front wheels 28 are also folded or unfolded accordingly. This means that the trolley according to the invention requires only a single linear drive mechanism 25 which performs a single step in order to completely complete the folding and/or opening sequence.

Due to the linkage assembly, the linear drive mechanism 25 may be low power, since the force on the linear actuator 24 is substantially reduced. As a result, the linear drive mechanism 25 can be smaller and lighter, providing more portability to the cart.

The support leg 20 has a distal end. Each distal end is connected to a rear wheel 32. The rear wheels 32 are much larger in diameter than the front wheels 28. Like the front wheels 28, the rear wheels 32 may include rubber tires and may preferably include hydraulic devices for improved maneuverability and comfort. The front wheels 28 and the rear wheels 32 define the base of the cart frame 10. A bag (not shown) may optionally be fitted between the wheels, linear actuator 24 and support legs 20 to provide storage for necessities and shopping. The distance between the rear wheels 30 must be greater than the distance between the main frame bars 12 so that when the trolley is in the collapsed configuration, as shown in figures 4 and 5, the rear wheels 32 are the outermost part of the trolley.

With additional reference to fig. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the linear actuator 25 includes a cam mechanism driven by a motor (not shown). The cam mechanism pushes and pulls the inner tube 24b with respect to the outer tube 24a. When the inner tube 24b and the outer tube 24a are pushed away from each other, the linear actuator 24 extends. This urges the first link arm 16 away from the central rod in a linear direction indicated by arrow a in fig. 1. In this way, the frame members 12 are forced to pivot towards their respective support legs 20, and the first link arms 16 are forced to pivot towards the second link arms 13. This causes the stroller frame 10 to fold down on itself until it reaches the configuration shown in fig. 4 and 5 of the drawings. As mentioned above, this movement is particularly smooth due to the particular linkage assembly formed by the

link arms

13 and 16, the main frame member 12 and the support leg 20, and requires very little power from the linear drive mechanism 25 in order to operate. The caster 11 rolls against the support leg 20 and prevents the support leg 20 and the main frame member 12 from frictionally sliding against each other. This means that the system is less likely to jam and thus the linear drive mechanism 25 is over-worked. Connector 34 pulls on the cam mechanism inside foot pedal 26 causing pivot point 30 to rotate rearward toward rear wheel 32.

Similarly, the linear drive mechanism 25 may pull the inner tube 24b towards the outer tube 24a, thus pulling the first link arm towards the central rod 22. This will cause the frame members of the trolley frame 10 to unfold and thus the trolley frame 10 may return to the open configuration as shown in figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.

The motor for driving the cam mechanism of the linear drive mechanism 25 may be electronically actuated by a switch 38 built into the handlebar 14 of the stroller frame 10. In use, a user may simply press a button and wait for frame 10 to fold into its folded configuration, or to unfold into its unfolded configuration. This requires little input from the user and allows them to focus their attention on their child or infant. The linear drive mechanism 25 itself maintains the cart frame 10 in any configuration desired. When in the open configuration, and with particular reference to fig. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the generator mechanism 40 fitted to the rear wheel 32 of the trolley converts the rotational energy into electrical energy and charges the capacitor while the trolley is moving. Since only a single motor is required and since the electronics required are simple, the power used by the motor is very small, which means that the chance of failure is very low. This also allows the entire system to be recharged by the generator mechanism 40 on the rear wheels. If more power is required, the generator mechanism will not be able to fully charge the system between the cases of folding and unfolding the cart frame 10. Thus, over time, the capacitor will deplete power and, as a result, the mechanism will fail quickly. The present invention thus provides advantages over the prior art in that the batteries do not need to be replaced. However, the motor may occasionally fail, and the present invention may provide a failsafe option in the event of a motor failure.

A disengagement mechanism for the dynamo on each rear wheel may be provided that can be actuated by pressing a button or switch on the handlebar 14 or pressing a foot pedal near the dynamo itself. During use, a user may find that the back emf generated by the generator may become annoying when the user is pushing the cart to move. In this case, they can disengage the generator from the rear wheels so that the back EMF no longer opposes the movement of the cart.

Referring now to fig. 6 and 7 of the drawings, in the event of a motor failure or the capacitor failing to recharge, the disengagement system is arranged to enable a user to manually disengage the linear drive mechanism 25. A twist lock 42 is provided that connects the linear drive mechanism 25 with the linear actuator 24. On one side (e.g., the linear drive mechanism 25), there may be a collar 45 having a rod 43 extending through a diameter of the collar 45. The collar 45 may rotate relative to the linear drive mechanism 25. On the opposite side (e.g., linear actuator 24), there may be an extension 47 comprising a portion of a hollow tube and having diametrically opposed "L" shaped apertures 49, the apertures 49 extending a short distance from the edge of the extension 47 and then partially following the circumference of the extension. In use, if the motor fails to engage the linear actuator 24 or the generator does not properly charge the linear actuation mechanism 25, the user may twist the collar 45 to move the rod 43 along the aperture 49 until the rod 43 can be released, allowing the linear actuator 24 to disengage from the linear drive mechanism 25.

Once disengaged, the user may manually collapse the stroller frame 10, as shown in fig. 7 of the drawings. This adds an additional level of safety and control to the user, so the user need not rely solely on electronic components to work in order to use the stroller frame 10 as desired. Note that the connector 34 is still connected to the front wheel 28, and therefore, when the drive mechanism 25 is disengaged, the front wheel 28 is still folded inward/outward, and the user performs a manual folding/unfolding series of operations.

The stroller frame 10 may be equipped with a child receiving device, such as a seat 44 or cradle 126, attached to the main frame member 12 by a socket 46 adapted to receive the frame attachment 48. Seats 44 adapted to hold a child are known in the art, and the present invention is not intended to be specifically limited to any seat 44.

Referring to fig. 8, 9A and 9B of the drawings, there is shown a frame attachment 48 having a generally rectangular main body 84 with a circular movable handle 86 fitted at one end thereof. In use, the frame attachment will be fixedly attached to the seat and/or bassinet desired to be used with the stroller frame 10. The handle 86 is movable in a linear direction relative to the body 84 along its longitudinal axis. Near opposite ends of the body 84 are two projecting teeth 88. The teeth are connected by a spring bias 89. With particular reference to fig. 9A and 9B, there is an elongated post 90 extending along the longitudinal axis of the body 84 and fixedly attached at a first end of the handle 86. The post is movably attached at its opposite second end to the teeth 88. The first end of the post 90 includes a spring biasing member 92 that biases the post 90 downward (when the device is oriented for use). The second end of the post 90 includes a guide plate 94 having a pair of guide slots 96. The guide slots 96 extend diagonally towards each other in a direction pointing away from the handle. Two pins 98 are fixedly attached to the teeth 88 and extend through the guide slots 96. The pin 98 is movable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body 84. In use, a user may lift the handle 86, which pulls the post 90 upward. When the handle 86 is lifted, the guide slots 96 pull the pins toward each other. This pulls the teeth inward, allowing the user to lift the seat and/or bassinet out of the frame receptacle 46.

Referring to FIG. 10, in the case of the seat 44 being used with the stroller frame 10, the seat attachment device 48 would be attached to a seat frame 100 and have a seat recline mechanism 102 mounted thereon. The seat frame 100 forming the back of the seat is rotatable relative to the seat frame 100 forming the arm (not shown) of the seat. On the rear face of the circular lift handle 86 is a fixed disk 104 having a plurality of rectangular notches 106 formed on its periphery. The seat frame 100 forming the back of the seat is hollow and houses a spring-loaded plunger therein. The spring-loaded plunger includes a plunger 110 having a tab 112, the tab 112 configured to be received in one of the plurality of notches 106. The plunger 110 is spring biased towards the disc 104 by a spring 114 connected to a housing 116, the housing 116 providing a resistance force against one end of the spring 114 to urge the plunger 110 towards the disc. This causes the tabs 112 to push into the corresponding indentations 106. A foam cushion 115 fits between the plunger 110 and the disc 104. A cable 118 connects the housing to a handle 120 located in the upper rear surface of the back of the seat 44.

Referring to fig. 11A and 11B, the cable 118 extends along the seat frame 100 to a handle 120 positioned in the rear of the seat 44. The cable is anchored to the handle 120 by means of a push-on cable anchor 122. An opening in the fabric at the rear of the seat 44 exposes a portion of the handle 120 to the user. The handle is pivotally movable about pivot point 119 in the direction of arrow C away from the rear of the seat 44. Spring 114 biases handle 120 toward the back of seat 44. In use, a user may pull handle 120 outward, causing cable 118 to pull plunger 110, and in particular tab 112, out of indentation 106 in disc 104. This will enable the user to then rotate the back of the seat 44 to recline the seat more or less.

Referring now to fig. 12A, 12B and 13 of the drawings, a canopy 50 may have been attached to the seat 44. The canopy may be removably attached to the seat 44 by any suitable means, such as snaps, hook and loop fastening strips, zippers, or other means known in the art. The present invention is not intended to be limited in this respect. The canopy 50 includes a canopy frame 52 having three support rods: a front bar 54, a middle bar 56, and a lower bar 58 that are generally arcuate in shape and pivotally joined together at each end by a pivot hinge 59 to define a canopy shape. A fabric 60 is fitted between each successive rod. The length of fabric 60 fitted between each rod defines the maximum extension of that rod from its adjacent rod. A flexible brim 61 made of hardened fabric may provide further shade to the child or infant during use. The eaves 61 may be folded manually out from the interior of the canopy when required, or folded back into the canopy when not required. The canopy 50 may further comprise a viewing window at the rear of the canopy, comprising an openable flap 68, which flap 68 when lifted exposes a transparent PVC window (not shown). This may allow a user of the trolley to observe the child or infant during use.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that any suitable amount of the king pin 56 may be used as desired by the user, and the invention is not intended to be limited in this respect. Thus, canopy 50 may include three or four collapsible panels between frame bars, or possibly more if desired.

A pivot hinge may connect canopy 50 to attachment device 62. Any suitable attachment means will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The attachment means may connect the canopy 50 to the seat 44 or the stroller frame 10 itself.

Referring to fig. 14 of the drawings, at the base of the canopy 50, an excess amount of fabric 64 is provided, designed to be wrapped around, for example, the back of a seat or the top end of a bassinet, to ensure that the canopy is in place during use. The excess fabric 64 may have snaps 66 or other suitable fastening devices therein to securely fasten the canopy 50 to the seat or bassinet when in use.

Referring to FIG. 15 of the drawings, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, canopy 50 may further include a laminate 70 between first middle rail 56a and lower rail 58. The laminate 70 may include an outer layer 72 that may be temporarily removed or moved to expose a breathable mesh layer 74, which allows fresh air to pass into the interior of the hood, for example, on hot days.

Referring now to fig. 16-18, a bag 76 may be provided to fit to the interior surface of canopy 50. The pocket 76 is generally rectangular in shape and may be joined to the canopy 50 along one edge so that it may be angled downward from the canopy. As seen from the inside, the point at which the bag 76 fits to the uppermost part of the hood is approximately one quarter of the length of the fabric 60 from the edge of the hood 50. A flexible linkage 78 may connect opposite edges of the bag 76 to the canopy eaves 61. Alternatively, the linkage may join the pouch to a portion of the canopy closer to the edge of the canopy 50. In use, when canopy 50 is open, coupling 78 pulls the opposite edges of bag 76 so as to angle it generally toward a location where a child or infant may be when using the stroller. Alternatively, the coupling may have fasteners 79 at the ends that are not attached to the bag 76, and multiple fastening points may be provided on the interior surface of the canopy 50, thus allowing the user to select the appropriate angle for the bag.

When canopy 50 is assembled to the seat/bassinet, the viewing window 80 in the pocket faces the seat/bassinet. An opening 82 along one edge of the bag 76 allows a user to access the interior of the bag 76. The closable flap 84 allows the user to seal the opening 82. In use, a user may place a mobile device such as a cell phone or tablet or any other item in the bag to entertain a child or infant.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, and with reference to fig. 19, a collapsible bassinet 126 is provided for use with the collapsible cart frame 10. The bassinet 126 includes a bassinet frame 128 encased in a fabric cover 130. The frame defines a standard bassinet shape having a generally round rectangular base 132 and having a continuous wall 134 extending therefrom to define a partially enclosed space therein for an infant or very young child. A pair of seat attachments 48 have been attached to the bassinet frame 128 as described with reference to fig. 8, 9A and 9B so that the bassinet can be mounted to the stroller frame 10. The exposed portion of the bassinet frame 136 provides the user with the option of assembling the canopy 50 as described with reference to fig. 12A-18 of the drawings. Alternatively, the canopy 50 may be integrally formed with the seat attachment 48. A pull out tab 138 is also provided that includes a length of durable flexible fabric 140 and a pulling handle 142.

Referring additionally to fig. 20, the bassinet frame 128 is shown without the fabric cover 130. A single metal loop forms the rim portion 144 of the bassinette 126. The rim 144 is generally rectangular in shape having two opposing longer sides connected by two opposing short sides. The rim 144 has been fitted with the seat attachment arrangement 48 of figures 8, 9A and 9B of the drawings. The metal rim 144 is pivotally attached to four thick wire support legs 146, two support legs 146 on each longer side. When the bassinet 126 is in the open configuration, the support legs 146 extend diagonally between the base plate 148 and the rim 144 and are slidably connected to the base plate 148. The base plate is rigid. The support legs 146 intersect to provide support and rigidity. The base plate 148 may be formed of any suitable material, and a preferred choice would be to use plywood because of its high strength and low weight characteristics. Other suitable materials are known in the art, such as durable plastics formed in a single molding, and the invention is not intended to be limited in this regard.

Referring to fig. 21 of the drawings, the underside of the base plate 148 is shown. The support legs 146 are connected to corresponding opposing support legs by rigid connecting rods 150. Alternatively, there may be only two generally "U" shaped support legs 146, with the bottom of the "U" fitting below the base plate 148. The runners 152 on the base plate 148 attach the support legs 146 and the rigid connecting rods 150 (or only the support legs 146 in the case of "U" shaped support legs 146) to the rigid base plate 148. The runner 152 includes a wide configuration defining an elongated slot 154 that is positioned generally at each corner below the base plate 148. The slot 154 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base plate 148 (and thus the bassinet 126). The support legs 146 are free to slide longitudinally within the slots 154. Because the support legs 146 are connected by the rim 144 and the connecting rod 150, and because the connecting rod is held against the underside of the base plate 148 by the runner 152, the support legs can only move in unison. Furthermore, they can only be moved to push the connecting rods 150 towards or away from each other. As they move toward each other, the intersecting support legs 146 urge the rim 144 away from the base plate 148. As they move away from each other, the intersecting support legs pull the rim 144 towards the base plate 148. Thus, the overall structure of the bassinette 126 is movable between the folded and unfolded configurations.

The fabric 140 of the pull tab 138 is wrapped around each of the connection rods 150 such that pulling the pull tab 138 causes the connection rods 150 to be pulled toward each other. By releasing the pulling handle 142, gravity will cause the rim 144 to fall toward the base plate 138, thus pushing the connecting rods 150 away from each other. Thus, the user can move the bassinet between the folded and unfolded configurations using the pull tab 138.

In one exemplary embodiment, the bassinet may further include a pulley system (not shown) to assist in the pulling of the pulling tab 138. Since the user has to pull the support leg 146 into position against the weight of the support leg 146 and also the rim 144, the pulley system will enable the user to exert less force on the system to end up with the same result. The pulley system will loop the fabric of the pull tab 138 through the slot near the rim 144 of the bassinet. As the pull tab 138 is pulled downward, the support legs 146 are drawn together and the edge 144 is pushed upward. Snap fasteners 156 on the outer surface of the bassinet proximate to the base panel 148 provide a fastening means that allows the user to secure the pulling tab 138 in place when the bassinet is in the open configuration.

To lock the bassinet 126 into the open configuration, snap fasteners 156 are provided on a locking plate 158 that is integrally formed with the base plate 148. Corresponding snap fasteners 158 on the fabric of the pull tab 138 are disposed at points along the fabric corresponding to when the connecting bars 150 are in their closest proximity. A second set of snap fasteners 156 can optionally be provided near the pulling handle 142 to lock the bassinet in the folded configuration for transportation purposes. Other fastening means suitable for locking the bassinette 126 in one of its two configurations will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the present invention is not intended to be necessarily limited in this respect.

Fig. 22A to 22D show successive stages of the folding series operation of the bassinette 126. From fig. 22A to 22D, the bassinet transitions to the folded configuration. From fig. 22D to fig. 22A, the bassinet transitions to the open configuration.

The invention described above provides the user with increased flexibility in manipulating all aspects of the cart. With a single push of the button, the stroller frame 10 can be collapsed into its collapsed configuration and lifted into its open configuration. Similarly, the bassinet can be assembled into its open configuration using one hand and collapsed by simply releasing the pull tab. The lifting mechanism for removing the seat/cradle from the stroller frame provides a simple and quick way to remove the seat without the need to manually pull parts out in sequence or separate a large number of objects. The seat recline mechanism allows the user to easily recline the seat from a single point of contact.

Variations and modifications to the embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A foldable wagon, comprising:

-a main frame for supporting a child receiving device;

-a rear wheel assembly coupled to the main frame, the rear wheel assembly comprising an elongate support leg carrying a rear wheel at a first end and pivotally coupled to the first end of the main frame at a second end;

-a front wheel assembly comprising front wheels;

-a linear drive mechanism for effecting folding and unfolding of the trolley upon actuation, the linear drive mechanism comprising a linear actuator coupled to a motor and selectively linearly movable by an actuation means; and

-a linkage assembly coupled between the rear wheel assembly and the main frame, the linkage assembly including a first link arm pivotally coupled to a support leg at a location along the length of the support leg and a second link arm pivotally coupled to the main frame at a location along the length of the main frame, the first and second link arms being connected together by a pivot joint;

wherein a linear actuator extends from the front wheel assembly to the pivot joint between the first link arm and the second link arm and is configured to move in a direction away from the front wheel assembly to fold the stroller and in a direction toward the front wheel assembly to unfold the stroller for use when actuated.

2. The stroller of claim 1, further comprising a disengagement mechanism between the motor and the linear actuator, the disengagement mechanism configured to selectively disengage the linear actuator for selective manual folding and unfolding of the stroller in use.

3. The hand trolley of claim 1, wherein the front wheel is pivotally connected to the front wheel assembly by a pivot hinge configured to allow the front wheel to pivot toward and away from the rear wheel assembly in use.

4. The cart of claim 3, wherein the pivot hinge is coupled to the linear drive mechanism by a connector, the linear drive mechanism causing pivotal movement of the front wheel toward the rear wheel assembly when the cart is folded, and causing pivotal movement of the front wheel away from the rear wheel assembly when the cart is unfolded.

5. The cart of claim 1, wherein the motor is electrically powered by a power source.

6. The cart of claim 5, wherein the power source is a rechargeable power source.

7. The cart of claim 6, wherein the rear wheel assembly further comprises a generator, wherein the rechargeable power source is electrically coupled to the generator.

8. The cart of claim 1, wherein the main frame includes a handlebar.

9. The cart according to claim 8, wherein said actuating device for said motor of said linear drive mechanism is located in said handlebar.

10. The cart of claim 9, wherein the actuation device is a button.

11. The cart of claim 9, wherein the actuation device is a switch.

12. The cart of claim 1, wherein the front wheel assembly further comprises a foot pedal.

13. The stroller of any of claims 1-12, wherein the main frame includes a pair of sockets for receiving child receiving devices.

14. The stroller of claim 6, wherein the stroller further comprises a child receiving device comprising an attachment device configured to removably attach the child receiving device to the main frame of the stroller.