FR2761327A1 - Pivoted pushchair seat - Google Patents

Abstract

The pushchair seat (17) comprises a seat (21) and a back (20) which can be inclined relative to the seat. The seat includes two side frames (18) and at one end of each side frame is a means for tipping and stretching the seat or back. The back comprises a plane plate articulated by rods and a gripping handle (7). The means for tipping and stretching comprise a sheath covering one end of each side frame and having two positions relative to the side frame. In the first re-entrant position the sheath is in the side frame axis and in the second extended position it is tipped relative to the side frame. The two external panels (35) of the back have a groove (38) in which pegs (39) engage for inclination of the back.

Description

 Articulated child seat and stroller equipped with such a seat.

 The present invention relates to the field of articulated seats for children which generally include a seat and a reclining backrest relative to the seat. This type of seat is intended to be supported by a preferably foldable stroller frame. The seat and back are therefore generally foldable.

 Known from European patent application No. 0 000 437 (ANDREWS MACLAREN), an articulated stroller comprising a tubular frame supported by wheels and on which is disposed a canvas seat held by side members and crosspieces. seat is reclining thanks to two slides which can be locked by screws. Such a seat, apart from being difficult to recline due to the manipulation of the screws, does not offer satisfactory comfort due to its lack of rigidity.

 Also known, from European patent application No. 0 104 884 (ANDREWS MACLAREN), a stroller equipped with a canvas seat integral with the stroller chassis and the top of the backrest of which can be secured either with the front base, either with the rear base of the stroller so as to define two tilting positions. Such a seat does not offer satisfactory rigidity, especially at the child's back and the tilting of the backrest requires manipulation on both sides of the said file.

 The object of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks of the above devices by proposing a seat which is sufficiently rigid to ensure good support for the child while being foldable so as to occupy only a reduced volume, in particular to be used with a foldable stroller whose width is reduced to folding.

 The child seat according to the invention is of the type comprising a seat and a backrest which can be tilted relative to the seat, said seat and backrest being foldable at least between a use position and a storage position. The seat includes side rails arranged on its sides. The seat comprises at least one end of each spar, means for tilting and stretching the seat or the backrest, each disposed at one end of said spars.

 In one embodiment of the invention, the seat comprises means for stiffening said seat and backrest so as to provide at least a flat backrest surface and a flat seat surface. This provides lumbar and back support for the child.

 Advantageously, the seat and the backrest each comprise, on their lower faces, articulated rods. The backrest may include a flat plate articulated with the rods and provided with a grip handle. This gives a folded seat of small width. The rods and the flat plate can be provided so that in the unfolded position they are not locked and can be folded up effortlessly.

 Advantageously, the tilting and stretching means comprise a sheath covering one end of each spar and having two positions relative to the spar, a retracted position, the sheath being in the axis of the spar, and at least one extended position, the sleeve being tilted relative to the beam.

 In another embodiment of the invention, the seat and the backrest comprise a plurality of rigid longitudinal panels hinged with respect to each other capable of folding in the width direction. This provides a light and compact footrest.

 Preferably, the back panels are articulated with respect to the seat panels, the back comprising a foldable crosspiece connecting the two outer panels. The seat and backrest can slide relative to each other.

 In one embodiment of the invention, the foldable crosspiece comprises two rods articulated in the center of the backrest, their common articulation axis projecting in a groove in the backrest, the lateral ends of the rods being articulated on supports integral with the external panels folder.

 The two outer panels of the backrest can be provided with a groove capable of cooperating with fingers integral with the side members for the relative inclination of the backrest relative to the seat, the grooves being provided at least at one end with a means of restraint of the finger relative to said end.

 Advantageously, the seat and the back are provided with cutouts arranged near their common articulation and intended to allow the relative inclination of the back with respect to the seat up to a predetermined minimum angle. One can, for example, provide a relative inclination ranging from 90 "to 1800. The seat may include two coaxial articulation fingers each arranged on one side of the seat and around which the backrest is free to rotate, the backrest comprising two grooves cooperating with said fingers for the purpose of folding the seat into the storage position.

 In one embodiment of the invention, the panels are made of synthetic material.

 The backrest can be provided with bearing surfaces capable of cooperating with a cross member of the seat for maintaining said backrest in a given position.

 The invention also relates to a foldable stroller of the type comprising a chassis supported by wheels and provided with means for supporting a seat and means for folding said chassis. In particular, the seat support can be rotatable so as to be able to tilt it as a whole and folding the chassis can make it possible to reduce not only the total size of the latter, but also its width.

Such a stroller is equipped with a seat as described above.

 Thanks to the invention, there is a sufficiently rigid seat while being foldable and easy to handle between at least two positions of inclination of the backrest.

The invention will be better understood on studying the detailed description of embodiments taken by way of nonlimiting examples and illustrated by the appended drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a stroller equipped with a seat according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the seat back in the tilted position;
Figure 3 is a rear elevation view of the stroller of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a stroller equipped with a seat according to another embodiment of the invention;
Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the seat with the backrest in an inclined position;
Figure 6 is a rear elevation view of the stroller of Figure 4;
Figure 7 is a variant of Figure 6; and
Figure 8 is a rear elevation view of a seat according to another embodiment of the invention.

 For a complete description of a foldable stroller, reference may be made to the French patent published under number 2,693,162 of the applicant.

 As illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the stroller comprises a chassis 1 provided with a front base 2 and a rear base 3 supported by wheels 4 and 5. The chassis 1 also includes a push arm 6 which has at its upper end a horizontal gripping area 7. At the rear part of the stroller is a cross 8 hinged in the middle and whose lower ends can pivot relative to the rear base 3 in the vicinity of the lower end of the last. The upper ends of the cross member 8 are articulated on sliding sleeves 9 and 10 which are slidably crossed by the rear base 3. The frame 1 also includes a pair of connecting rods 1 1 and 12 facilitating the folding of the stroller and articulated on the lower end of the rear base 3 and on the lower end of the push arm 6. The upper ends of the rear base 3 are articulated on slides 13 and 14 secured to the upper ends of the front base 2. The push arm 6 can slide through the slides 13 and 14 parallel to the front base 2. The chassis 1 comprises two sliding sleeves 15 and 16 through which pass the front base 2 and the push arm 6. The chassis 1 is capable of folding in the direction of the thickness by bringing the rear base 3 substantially parallel to the base 2, and in the width direction.

 In Figures 1 and 2, the sleeve 15 is in the upper stop position in contact with the slide 13 in the unfolded position of the stroller. Such a stroller can be folded back by bringing the rear base 3 parallel to the front base 2 and the lower end of the pusher arm 6 near the wheels 4 of the front base 2.

 The sleeves 15 and 16 also serve as support for a seat 17.

 The seat 17 is foldable between a use position and a folded storage position and comprises two tubular beams 18 and 19 which support the backrest 20 and the seat 21 of the seat. The seat 21 is articulated at its front end on the side rails 18 and 19 and is integral at its rear end with the backrest 20. The backrest 20 comprises two rigid lateral bands 22 and 23 between which a canvas 24 and a stiffening element are stretched 25. The upper ends of the strips 22 and 23 are articulated on sleeves 26 and 27 mounted on the upper end of the side members 18 and 19.

 The sleeves 26 and 27 being symmetrical, only the sleeve 26 will be described. The sleeve 26 comprises a housing 28 in which is disposed the upper end of the beam 18. The housing 28 comprises a tubular portion 29 in which protrudes said upper end of the beam 18, in FIG. 1, and a stop 30 against which said upper end of the spar 18 is in contact, in FIG. 2. The sheath 26 comprises on a lateral face a groove 31 in communication with the housing 28 and in which protrudes a pin 32 integral with the spar 18. The sheath 26 is movable longitudinally relative to the longitudinal member 18, the pin 32 moving from one end to the other of the groove 31. When the sleeve 26 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 2, the pin 32 being disposed at the lower end of the groove 31, the spar 18 no longer projects into the tubular portion 29 of the housing 28, which allows the sleeve 26 to tilt downward relative to the spar 18, the pin 32 serving to xe of tilting.

 The upper end of the strip 22 being articulated relative to the upper end of the sheath 26, the seat 17 can thus take two stable positions, a first so-called sitting position illustrated in FIG. 1, the sheath 26 being retracted, and a lying position illustrated in FIG. 2, the sheath 26 being tilted relative to the side member 18. By grasping the top of the backrest 20 with one hand, the position of the seat 17 can easily be changed.

 As can be seen more particularly in FIG. 3, the stiffening element 25 of the backrest 20 comprises a central plate 33 made for example of synthetic material and extending over most of the height of the backrest 20. The width of the plate 33 depends on the desired width of the folded stroller. The plate 33 is articulated with four similar rods referenced 34a, 34b, 34c and 34d. The rods 34a and 34b are also articulated on the strip 22 and the rods 34c and 34d on the strip 23. The rods 34a and 34b, 34c and 34d are parallel in pairs and are provided with stops intended to prevent their tilting downwards . To facilitate the folding of the backrest 20 in the lateral direction, provision is made for the articulation of the rods 34a, 34b, 34c and 34d on the plate 33 to be slightly higher than their articulation on their respective bands 22 and 23 so that the backrest 20 can be folded easily without blocking effect of the stiffening element 25. When the stiffening element 25 is folded, the plate 33 rises upwards and the strips 22 and 23 come into contact with it. The rods 34a, 34b, 34c and 34d are then arranged in the form of a chevron facing upwards, in a manner not shown. The plate 33 is provided at its upper end with a grip 33a.

 One can also provide a seat 21 with a stiffening element, not shown, similar to the stiffening element 25, only the dimensions being adapted.

 In Figures 4 to 6, the stroller frame is identical to that illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 and has the same reference numbers. The seat 17 also includes two side members 18 and 19, a backrest 20 and a seat 21. The seat 21 is articulated at one end on the side members 18 and 19 and is integral with the other end of the backrest 20. The backrest 20 and the seat 21 comprise a plurality of panels made of synthetic material, whether made or not. These panels are foldable relative to each other.

 In FIG. 6, we can see more particularly the central panels 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 20e, 20f, 20g of the backrest 20. The panels 35 and 36 arranged at the lateral ends of the backrest 20 play the same role as the bands of the mode of previous embodiment and remain perpendicular to the whole of the backrest 20 even when the latter is in the unfolded state. The limit between two panels is formed by a groove 41 which increases the flexibility of the material and allows the panels to be folded. The backrest 20 is provided at its lower end with cutouts 37 intended to facilitate changes in inclination relative to the seat 21. The seat 21 is produced with panels in the extension of those of the backrest 20. It is therefore possible to manufacture the backrest 20 and the seat 21 from a plate of synthetic material provided with the necessary cutouts and grooves 41 forming hinges.

 The upper end of the side panel 35 is provided with a longitudinal groove 38 whose lower end 38a is curved.

The seat 17 being in the seated position (FIG. 4), the groove 38 is substantially parallel to the spar 18. A finger 39 integral with the upper end of the spar 18 projects into the groove 38 and projects beyond it so as to retain the panel 35. The side panel 36 is symmetrical with the panel 35 and cooperates with a finger 39 of the spar 19. It is thus possible to modify the inclination of the seat 17 between the seated position illustrated in FIG. 4 in which the finger 39 is in abutment at the upper end of the groove 38, and an elongated position illustrated in FIG. 5 in which the finger 39 is arranged at the curved end 38a of the groove 38. Provision is made for the curved end 38a of the groove 38 to ensure the retention of the finger 39 and thus prevents any untimely change in inclination of the backrest 20.

 At the bottom of the side panel 35, a groove 42 is provided which is substantially parallel to the backrest 20 and in which a finger 43 which can be secured to the seat 21 can slide.

 The seat 21 and the backrest 20 can thus pivot and slide relative to each other, which allows them to be stored in the plane of the side members 18 when the stroller is folded.

 To increase the rigidity of the backrest 20, the latter is provided with a crosspiece 40 which can be folded into three sections 40a, 40b, 40c, the end sections 40a and 40c being articulated on the lateral ends of the backrest 20.

 As a variant (FIG. 7), it is possible to provide a cross-member 40 which can be folded into two sections 40d and 40e which are mutually articulated on a projecting pin 44 and capable of sliding in a guide groove 45 of the central panel 20d. This facilitates regular folding of the seat 17.

 In this embodiment, a seat of low weight is obtained, which is easy to handle because it can be folded laterally like the stroller, occupying only a small space. This seat is economical insofar as the seat and the backrest are made from the same sheet of synthetic material in which the grooves intended for folding the panels and the cutouts intended for the relative inclination of the backrest and the seat are produced. . The seat can also be produced in a single injection operation in a suitable mold. Thanks to their panel structure, the backrest and seat in the deployed position maintain excellent rigidity.

 In FIG. 8, the side members are connected by an upper crosspiece 46. The backrest 20 comprises a tab 47 issuing from its rear face and provided with bearing surfaces 48 on the crosspiece 46. The backrest 20 can thus be positioned at a level given corresponding to that of the lug 47. Several lugs 47 can be provided at different levels. The backrest 20 is retained by a metal rod 49 passing behind the crosspiece 46. The fixing portion 50 of the rod 49 on the top of the backrest 20 also serves as a bearing surface on the crosspiece 46 when the backrest 20 is in a position low, not shown, relative to the cross member 20.

 Thanks to the invention, there is a seat of satisfactory rigidity for the maintenance of a child, which can be tilted in at least two positions and perfectly suited to foldable strollers whose width is reduced to folding. Of course, a seat could be provided with three or even more tilt positions.

Claims (14)

 1. Child seat (17) of the type comprising a seat (21) and a backrest (20) tiltable relative to the seat, said seat and backrest being foldable between at least one use position and one storage position, said seat comprising two longitudinal members (18, 19) arranged on its sides, characterized in that it comprises, at at least one end of each longitudinal member, means for tilting and stretching the seat or the backrest, each arranged at one end of said beams.  2. Seat according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for stiffening said seat and back so as to provide at least a flat back surface and a flat seat surface.  3. Seat according to claim 2, characterized in that the seat and the backrest each comprise, on their lower faces, articulated rods.  4. Seat according to claim 3, characterized in that the backrest comprises a flat plate (33) articulated with the rods (34a, 34b, 34c, 34d), and provided with a grip handle.  5. Seat according to claim 4, characterized in that the tilting and stretching means comprise a sheath (26, 27) covering one end of each spar and having two positions relative to the spar, a retracted position, the sheath being in the axis of the spar, and at least one extended position, the sheath being tilted relative to the spar.  6. Seat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the seat and the backrest comprise a plurality of rigid longitudinal panels and articulated with respect to each other capable of folding in the width direction.  7. Seat according to claim 6, characterized in that the back panels are articulated with respect to the seat panels, the back comprising a foldable crosspiece (40) connecting the two outer panels, the seat and the back can slide in relation to each other.  8. Seat according to claim 7, characterized in that the foldable crosspiece comprises two rods articulated in the center of the backrest, their common axis of articulation projecting in a groove of the backrest, the lateral ends of the rods being articulated on integral supports exterior back panels.  9. Seat according to claim 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that the two outer panels (35, 36) of the backrest are provided with a groove (38) capable of cooperating with fingers (39) integral with the side members for the relative inclination of the backrest relative to the seat, the grooves being provided at least at one end with a means for retaining the finger relative to said end.  10. Seat according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the seat and the backrest are provided with cutouts arranged near their common articulation and intended to allow the relative inclination of the backrest relative to the '' seating up to a predetermined minimum angle.  11. Seat according to any one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that it comprises two coaxial articulation fingers each arranged on one side of the seat and around which the backrest is free to rotate, said backrest comprising two grooves cooperating with said fingers for the purpose of folding the seat into the storage position.  12. Seat according to any one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that the panels are made of synthetic material.  13. Seat according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the backrest comprises bearing surfaces capable of cooperating with a cross member of the seat for maintaining said backrest in a given position.  14. Foldable stroller of the type comprising a chassis (1) supported by wheels (4, 5) and provided with means for supporting a seat and means for folding said chassis, said stroller comprising a seat according to any one of previous claims.