FR2997366A1 - Automatic brake for child transport vehicle i.e. cane pushchair, has control element held in active position by blocking element such that displacement of control element in direction of guide element causes displacement of blocking element - Google Patents

Abstract

The brake has a brake element including a clamping element secured to a rotation shaft of a wheel. The clamping element includes a control element (39) movable between an active position to induce the release of the braking element by the clamping element, and a rest position to clamp the braking element. The control element is held detachably in the active position by a blocking element (45) such that displacement of the control element in a direction of a guide element (2) causes a displacement of the blocking element to release the control element to pass to the rest position.

Description

The present invention relates to an automatic brake for a child transport vehicle. By child transport vehicle is meant any type of vehicle, foldable or not, for the transport of at least one child, the vehicle being moved manually, usually by pushing. Such vehicles are also designated by the terms of pram or stroller depending on whether or not they have a hood. For ease of reading, the term stroller will be preferentially used later. The strollers are equipped with brakes, generally foot operated, which include, for some, a bar, a portion of which comes into blocking support on at least one of the wheels of the stroller. Other types of brake include a lug being inserted between two teeth of a toothed wheel mounted coaxially on the rotating shaft of two wheels of the stroller. The brake control member may also be different, for example a handle as seen on a bicycle and located on the bar of the stroller. The brakes are generally used as a parking brake, that is to say that they ensure the immobilization of the stroller when it is at a standstill. In all cases, the different types of brake require a voluntary action of the user to be implemented. In other words, if we do not operate the brake control member, it is inactive. Similarly, the effectiveness of such brakes is maximum when the stroller is stopped. Their use, gradually, to slow the stroller is not planned. However, if by accident the user loses control of the stroller and the configuration of the terrain lends itself to it, the stroller risks continuing its journey in an uncontrolled manner, with all the risks that this includes for both the transported child and the child. for those present on the path of the stroller. Indeed, if the user drops the stroller in a sloping way, it can quickly become uncontrollable and cause a fall of the transported child and / or bystanders. To remedy this, there is known from GB-A-2 468 163 a brake comprising a piston surrounded by a coil spring. The piston is terminated by a point intended to be inserted between two teeth of a toothed wheel, mounted coaxially with the rotation shaft of the wheels of the stroller. The holding inactive position of this brake is obtained by clamping a movable bar against a fixed bar of the stroller. This requires, during the movement of the stroller, the user to tighten, relatively strong and permanently, the two bars under penalty, in case of release, to actuate the brake inadvertently. US-A-6 298 949 discloses another type of automatic brake where a guide handle is movable between a high position corresponding to an inactive position of the brake and a low position corresponding to an active position of the brake. The low position of the handle corresponds to the rest position of the latter. The braking is here carried out by a lug oriented parallel to the shaft of rotation of the wheels of the stroller and being inserted between two adjacent teeth of a toothed wheel mounted coaxially on the wheel rotation shaft. Here too, any relaxation in the thrust on the handle is likely to trigger braking. In these two devices, braking is not progressive. The stop is made as soon as a pin is inserted between two teeth of a toothed wheel. In addition, if the stroller is rapidly gaining speed, for example in the event of a steep slope, it may prove that the braking does not occur because the speed of rotation of the toothed wheel is such that the pin There is no time to fit between two neighboring teeth. It is these drawbacks that the invention intends to remedy by proposing an easy automatic brake to maintain in the released position, without effort for the user and allowing an effective and progressive braking in all circumstances. For this purpose, the invention relates to an automatic brake of a child transport vehicle comprising a clamping member of a braking element integral with a rotation shaft of at least one wheel of the vehicle, a control member of the clamping member disposed in the vicinity of a guide member of the vehicle, the control member being movable between a first active position in which it induces loosening of the braking member by the member clamping device and a second rest position in which it induces clamping of the braking element by the clamping member, characterized in that the control member is removably held in the first active position by a locking member and in that a displacement of the control member in the direction of the guide member causes a displacement of the locking member such that the latter is in a configuration where it releases the control member, this one then passing in his d second rest position. Such an automatic brake makes it possible to maintain, without effort, the inactive position of the brake. If necessary, an approximation by manual tightening of the control and guiding members keeps the clamping member of the clamping element in the inactive position until the release of the control and guiding elements induces progressive braking. in all circumstances, the stroller because of the return to the rest position of the control member, the latter inducing the tightening of the clamping element.

According to advantageous but non-obligatory aspects of the invention, such a brake may comprise one or more of the following characteristics: the control member comprises a handle fixed in the extension of a lug pivotally mounted around a rotation shaft; integral with a part of the vehicle. - The locking member comprises a flexible tongue pivotally mounted on the guide member and provided with a hole adapted to removably receive a lug fixed on the control member. - The locking member comprises a rigid tongue pivotally mounted on the guide member and provided at one end with a hook adapted to engage removably with a pin or a rod fixed on the control member. - A spring connects the tongue to the guide member and controls the movement of the tongue. - The braking member comprises a cylindrical braking element with a circular base, open at one end and adapted to receive a clamping member of complementary shape. - The clamping member comprises two half-jaws arcuate and movably mounted on the periphery of the clamping member. - A cable, connecting a portion of the control member to adapted bars for cooperating with springs, a rotation shaft and a pin induce the spacing or the approximation of the half-jaws. - The control member comprises two half-handles connected by a rod. The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly on reading the following description of several embodiments of the invention, given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings. in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view, simplified, of a child-carrying vehicle, pushchair-type, equipped with an automatic brake according to one embodiment of the invention, - the FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partial and on a larger scale, of detail II in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a figure similar to FIG. 2, on the same scale, of the guide member, FIG. control member and the locking member in another embodiment of the invention, - Figures 4 and 5 are front views, according to arrow III in Figure 2, on a larger scale, a member of the control member and the locking member shown in Figures 2 and 3 illustrate respectively, the positions of holding and unlocking the control member by the locking member, in another embodiment of the invention; - Figure 6 is a perspective view, exploded and at a other scale, a braking member according to another embodiment of the invention, comprising a clamping member of a braking element and - Figures 7 and 8 are perspective views, similar to Figures 2 or 3 and on another scale, two other embodiments of the invention. Figure 1 illustrates a child transport vehicle 1 stroller type. Here, it is a stroller of the cane type, that is to say, foldable by approximation towards one of the other side parts of the stroller 1, according to the width of the latter. As a variant not shown, it may be a folding stroller by bringing the upper part towards the lower part. It can also be a non-foldable stroller or a pram. These vehicles 1 are intended for the transport of one or more children. They are equipped with a guide member 2, 3 formed in this case by two independent handles. Here, the guide member of the stroller comprises two handles 2, 3 identical. Alternatively, the guide handles are different. These handles 2, 3 are mounted at the upper ends 4, 5, looking at Figure 1, two main tubes 6, 7, parallel, constituting the frame of the stroller 1. The lower ends 8, 9 of these tubes 6, 7 are integral with the rotation shafts 10, 11 of wheels 12, 13 of the stroller 1, in this case the front wheels. Secondary tubes 14, 15, fixed on the main tubes 6, 7 are connected to the rear wheels 16, 17. The portion 18 for forming the seat of the stroller is located between the tubes 6, 7. This is in this case, a piece of fabric 18, flexible, known per se and which can be equipped with a canopy, not shown. The front rotation shafts 10, 11, as well as the rear rotation shafts bear, at each end, two twin wheels 12, 13, 16, 17, known per se. Alternatively, they carry single wheels. At least one end of one of the rotation shafts is equipped with a braking member. In the example, looking at FIG. 1, this is the end of the shaft 10, situated at the front left of the stroller 1, according to its direction of displacement by pushing on the handles 2, 3, illustrated by the arrow D. Alternatively, each end of the shaft is provided with a braking member. In another embodiment not shown, the two ends of the rotation shafts of the front and rear wheels are equipped with braking members. The braking member 19, particularly visible in Figure 6, is of the drum brake type. It comprises a braking element 20 integral with the rotation shaft 10. It is a cylindrical piece 20, open at one end and with a circular base, mounted coaxially on the rotation shaft 10. The open end 21 of the element 20 is directed towards a clamping member 22. The element 20 is fixed permanently or releasably on the shaft 10. In all cases, the rotation of the shaft 10, in one direction or in the other, directly drives the rotation of the braking element 20. The element 20 is of suitable dimensions to receive, by its open end 21, the clamping member 22, the latter being of a shape adapted to fit in the element 20. In other words, the clamping member 22 is also cylindrical in shape with a circular base. The clamping member 22 comprises on its periphery two half-jaws 23, 24, illustrated in FIG. 6, configured in an arc of a circle and of suitable dimensions to fit into the braking element 20. The outer faces 25, 26 of the half-jaws 23, 24 each define a zone intended, in braking configuration, to come into contact with a circular inner face 27 of the braking element 20. By one end, the half-jaws 23, 24 are mounted on a rotation shaft 28, common, fixed on a disc 29 forming the bottom of the clamping member 22. This shaft 28 is not circular in cross section but oval cross section. The free ends 30, 31 of the half-jaws 23, 24 come, in the rest position, bearing against a pin 32, also of oval cross section. Two coil springs 33, 34 connect the half jaws 23, 24, in the vicinity of the shaft 28 and pin 32. In the rest position, the springs 33 and 34 maintain, by pushing, in separated configuration the half-jaws 23 , 24. In this configuration, the shaft 28 and the pin 32 are in a position such that the largest dimension of their section defines a maximum spacing between the ends of the half-jaws 23, 24. Thus, the latter are separated and in contact with the inner face 27 of the element 20 when the clamping member 22 is inserted into the element 20. This so-called rest configuration is that in which the braking member is active. The support of the half-jaws 23, 24 against the face 27 of the element, in this configuration, blocks the rotation of the wheel of the stroller. Two bars 35, 36 respectively fixed on the shaft 28, the spring 34, the pin 32 and the spring 33, from the outer face of the bottom 29, allow to maneuver the shaft 28 and the pin 32. A cable 37 , visible in Figures 2, 3, 7 and 8, is fixed to the bars 35, 36 and controls the displacement thereof. In the position illustrated in Figure 6, the smallest dimension of the cross section of the shaft 28 and the pin 32 is located between the ends of the half-jaws 23, 24. In this configuration the springs 33, 34 are compressed. In this so-called active configuration, the faces 25 and 26 are not in contact with the face 27 of the element 20. There is therefore free rotation of the shaft 10, the half-jaws 23, 24 not braking the rotation of the tree. The bars 35, 36 are held in this position by pulling on the cable 37.

One end 38 of the cable 37 is fixed on a control member 39. It comprises a control handle 40 mounted on a tab 41, in the extension thereof, near the guide member 2. The handle control 40 is curved, configured globally in beans. The tab 41, also curved, is fixed on the tube 6, pivotally about a rotation shaft 42 integral with the tube 6.

The free end of the lug 41 is provided with an orifice 43. The end 38 of the cable 37 is fixed at the level of this orifice 43. The handle 40 comprises, substantially in the median position, a mushroom-shaped lug 44. This lug 44, advantageously welded to the handle 40, is oriented towards the guide member 2. The latter is configured in a U-shaped handle in the example.

The lug 44 participates in the definition of a locking member 45 for maintaining in a defined position the control member 39. This locking member 45 also comprises a flexible tongue 46 made of a rigid material and having a modulus d nonzero elasticity. The tongue 46 is, for example, aluminum or a polymer.

This tongue 46, elongated and thin, is fixed, by one end 47 and removably or not, by means known per se, on the guide handle 2. The tongue 46 is thus disposed between the guide handle 2 and the control handle 40, closer to the latter without being in permanent contact with it.

The tongue 46 is provided, in the vicinity of a free end 48, with a generally pear-shaped orifice 49. This orifice 49 is particularly visible in FIGS. 4 and 5. The portion 50 of the orifice 49, generally circular, is of suitable dimensions to allow the insertion of a flattened end 51, in the form of a mushroom cap, of the 44. The elongate and straight portion 52 of the orifice 49 is adapted to ensure the passage of the main body 53 of the lug 44 but not the cap 51 of the latter. The main body 53 of the lug has dimensions such that it can move freely in translation in the portion 52 of the orifice 49. In FIG. 2, the tongue 46 is arranged so that its largest dimension is globally. perpendicular to the largest dimension of the handles 2 and 40. In this configuration, the circular portion 50 of the orifice 49 is located closer to the free end 48 of the tongue 46, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. In An embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 3, the tongue 46 is arranged so that its largest dimension is oriented generally in the same direction as the largest dimension of the handles 2 and 40. The circular portion 50 of the The orifice is then furthest from the free end 48 of the tongue 46. In any case, whatever the position of the orifice 50 on the tongue 46 and the position of the tongue 46 with respect to the handles 2 and 40, the tab 46 maintains the lug 44 when the main body 53 of the lug 44 is inserted into the rectilinear portion 52 of the orifice 49.

The configuration of the tongue 46, be it that illustrated in Figure 2 or that illustrated in Figure 3, is adapted so that the elasticity of the tongue 46 tends to bring it back to the rest position. In its rest position, that is to say in the position where the tongue 46 undergoes no folding and / or stress, the tongue 46 is away from the handle 2. The length of the cable 37 and the shape of the handle 40 are adapted so that, when the lug 44 is held in position in the orifice 49, the cable 37 is stretched. The cable 37 has a suitable length which corresponds to the rest position of the handle 40. Whatever the configuration of the tongue 46, the free end 48 is of sufficient size to allow gripping of the tongue 46. FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of a locking member 451. A lug 440 is placed on a side face 400 of a control handle 401. A tab 460 is rigid, without elasticity. It is fixed at one end to the guide handle 2, pivotally. A free end of the tongue 460 is configured hook 461. The hook 461 blocks a lug 440, similar in shape to the lug 44, being engaged on the main body of the latter. A spring 462 connects the tongue 460 to the handle 2. The spring 462 tends to bring the tongue 460 against the handle 2. Thus, when the handle 401 is brought closer to the handle 2, the restoring force of the spring 462 moves the tongue 460 of the lug 440. Figure 8 illustrates another embodiment in which the lug is replaced by a cylindrical rod 80. This rod 80 connects two half-control handles 81, 82.

The half-handles 81, 82 are held parallel by the rod 80. The tongue 460 is advantageously pivotally mounted around a shaft 83 inserted into a housing 84 formed in the handle 2. The operation of the tongue 460 is similar to the one illustrated in FIG. 7. A return spring 462, similar to that illustrated in FIG. 7, tends to move the tongue 460 away from the rod 80 when the half-handles 81, 82 of the handle 2 are brought together.

The operation of an automatic brake according to an embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to Figures 2 to 6. As indicated above, each spring 33, 34 is mounted such that a pull on the cable 37 compresses the springs, bringing de facto the two half-jaws 23, 24 towards each other. Thus, in the holding position of the handle 40, by inserting the lug 44 in the orifice 49 of the tongue 46, the braking member is not active. Indeed, the half-jaws 23, 24 are sufficiently close to each other not to bear against the face 27 of the braking element 20. In this configuration, there is free rotation of the wheels 12 , 13 of the stroller 1. In this configuration, said active, the tongue 46 is in tension, slightly curved in the direction of the control handle 40, this as in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 that illustrated in FIG. 3. This configuration goes against the rest position of the tongue 46. The elasticity of the tongue 46 tends to bring the latter in the vicinity of the guide handle 2 while away from the control handle 40 .

The length and the position of the tongue 46 on the control handle 2 are adapted to hold the pin 44 in position in the hole 49 in the position, so the control handle 40 in its first position, called active, where the cable 37 is stretched, the springs 33 and 34 tablets, the half jaws 23, 24 being away from the braking member 20. To maintain the tongue 46 in this position, the user, with one hand puts it in position, in the holding by the free end 48, and with the other hand, brings the handle 40 closer to insert the lug 44 in the orifice 49. Once the lug 44 is locked in the orifice 49, the user of the stroller can freely operate the stroller 1, acting only on the guide handles 2 and 3, without touching the control handle 40. The configuration of the guide handle 2 and / or the distance between the handle of guide 2 and the control handle are adapted to prevent non-voluntary contact of the control handle 40 by the user. For example, in an embodiment not shown, the handle 2 is substantially rectilinear and not rounded. This limits the muscle fatigue of the user when moving the stroller 1. In this configuration, the user can use the stroller, without the risk of accidental braking if he releases the guide handles. The user has, in this configuration, no effort to provide to maintain inactive position of the clamping member, the operation of the stroller 1 is facilitated. When the user believes that, for example in view of the slope of the ground, there is a risk that the stroller does not stop if he releases the guide handles 2, 3, whether voluntary or not, it puts the braking member 19 in active configuration. To set active configuration of the braking member 19, the user holds, by clamping, the control handle 40 as close as possible to the guide handle 2. In other words, it brings the two of them closer to each other. two handles 2, 40, it being understood that the guide handle 2 is fixed and the control handle 40 mobile. This is easy to achieve given the dimensions of the control handle 40 which are smaller than those of the guide handle 2. During this clamping movement, the main body 53 of the lug moves towards the circular portion 50 of the orifice 49 of the tongue 46. When the main body 53 is at this portion 50 of the orifice, the cap 51 of the lug 44, given the respective dimensions of the circular portion 50 of the port 49 and hat 51, can freely pass through the orifice 50 when the user releases the control handle 40. The tongue 46 is no longer blocked by the lug 44 inserted into the orifice 49. The tongue 46 tends then, by its elasticity, to return to its rest position, that is to say to move away from the guide handle 2. The disposition of the tongue is such that the latter, during his return movement in the rest position, pushes the control handle 40 by its end 48 while releasing the lug 44. The tongue 46 thus accompanies the rotational movement of the handle 40 during which the tab 41 tilts towards the tube 6 under the effect of the traction exerted by the cable 37.

Thus, the first so-called active position of the control member 40 is maintained as long as the user holds together the control handle 40 and the guide handle 2. The pull of the cable 37 is induced by the springs 33, 34 connecting the half jaws 23, 24. Indeed, the tension of the cable 37 by the control handle 40 is no longer exercised, the springs 33, 34 are no longer compressed and nothing prevents more than they come back in rest position by moving the half-jaws 23, 24 away from each other. The half-jaws 23, 24 then bear against the internal face 27 of the braking element 20. In this way, the rotation of the shaft 10 is slowed down gradually until it stops, and thus the stroller 1.

Depending on the setting of the springs and / or the configuration of the half-jaws, the braking of the stroller is more or less strong and the slowing down and stopping of the stroller intervene more or less quickly, regardless of the slope of the traffic way. This produces an automatic brake with progressive action, with a minimum of constraint for the user. Such a solution is usable, whatever the type of stroller and / or wheels. Such a brake can equip, in retrofit, existing strollers, in addition or in replacement of the parking brake equipping them. In another embodiment not shown, the half-jaws surround the braking element. They are then kept away from the latter by extension of the springs. Returning to the rest position of the springs makes it possible to generate the clamping of the half-jaws around the clamping element and to ensure the braking of the stroller. In other words, it is a mirror solution to that described. In variant not shown, the clamping member is formed by two pistons, mechanical or hydraulic, arranged on either side of a disc secured to a wheel rotation shaft. The support of the pistons on the disk is induced, in a manner similar to that described above, by at least one spring in the rest position. The rest of the brake, namely, the cable, the control member, the locking member and the guide member and the operating mode are similar to those described. In this variant, the braking is also progressive and is adapted to achieve the stopping of the stroller in all circumstances.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS1.- Automatic brake of a child transport vehicle (1) comprising a clamping member (22) of a braking element (20) integral with a rotation shaft (10, 11) of at least a wheel (12, 13, 16, 17) of the vehicle, a control member (39) of the clamping member (22) disposed in the vicinity of a guide member (2, 3) of the vehicle, control member (39) being movable between a first active position in which it induces loosening of the braking element (20) by the clamping member (22) and a second rest position in which it induces the clamping of the braking element (20) by the clamping member (22), characterized in that the control member (40, 401, 81, 82) is detachably held in the first active position by a locking member (45, 44, 440, 80, 46; 460) and that a displacement of the control member (40, 401, 81, 82) towards the guide member (2) leads to a displacement of the organ blocking device (45, 44, 440, 46, 460) such that the latter is in a configuration where it releases the control member (40, 401, 81, 82), which then passes into its second rest position . 2. Brake according to claim 1, characterized in that the control member comprises a handle (40, 401, 81, 82) fixed in the extension of a tab (41) pivotally mounted around a rotation shaft (42) secured to a portion (6) of the vehicle (1). 3. Brake according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking member (45) comprises a flexible tongue (46) pivotally mounted on the guide member (2) and provided with an orifice (49) adapted to removably receive a lug (44) attached to the control member (40). 4.- brake according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking member (451) comprises a rigid tongue (460) pivotally mounted on the guide member (2) and provided at one end of a hook (461) adapted to removably engage a lug (440) or rod (80) attached to the controller (401, 81, 82). 5. Brake according to claim 4, characterized in that a spring (462) connects the tongue (460) to the guide member (2) and controls the movement of the tongue (460). 6. Brake according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the braking member (19) comprises a cylindrical braking element (20) with a circular base, open at one end (21) and adapted to receive a body member. clamping (22) of complementary shape. 7. Brake according to claim 6, characterized in that the clamping member (22) comprises two half-jaws (23, 24) arcuate and movably mounted on the periphery of the clamping member (22). . 8. Brake according to claim 7, characterized in that a cable (37) connecting a portion (41) of the control member (40, 401, 81, 82) to bars (35, 36) adapted to cooperating with springs (33, 34), a rotation shaft (28) and a pin (32) induce the spacing or the approximation of the half-jaws (23, 24). 9. Brake according to claim 4, characterized in that the control member comprises two half-handles (81, 82) connected by a rod (80).