GB2091171A - Folding baby-carriages or push-chairs - Google Patents

Abstract

A folding baby-carriage comprises side frames interconnected by further frames 3 and 4, members 12 of the side frames bearing sliding sleeves 14 which stabilise the opened frames by receiving the ends 8a of side frame members 8. The upper part of a seat back 16 is articulated to the sleeves 14 by levers 18, 115. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to folding babycarriages or push-chairs The invention relates to a baby-carriage or pushchair of the so-called "umbrella" type, that is of the type which may be carried by hooking over the arm whose folding structure permits reduction thereof from either a sitting posture or a stretched out, lying position without the need for pre-arranging the chair accommodating the baby or child, i.e. without manipulating the seat and back into predetermined reciprocal positions.

According to the invention, there is provided a folding baby -carriage or push-chair comprising a pair of side frames, each of which comprises first and second cross-members pivoted together at respective middle portions thereof and carrying wheels at first ends thereof, each second member carrying a front wheel and having a portion extending from the pivot point with the first frame away from the first end thereof; a pair of further frames interconnecting the first frames and each comprising a pair of further cross-members pivoted together at respective middle portions thereof; a chair seat a chair back and a footrest arranged to fold transversely of the carriage or chair, a pair of third members each pivoted to a respective second cross-member and disposed in a common vertical plane, with the carriage or chair unfolded and resting on the wheels, with the respective extending portion;a pair of sleeves each slidably mounted on a respective third member and arranged to receive a respective extending portion; means pivoted to each of the sleeves for pivotally connecting the chair back to the third members, a lower region of the chair back being pivoted to the extended portions for pivoting about a transverse axis; and a pair of fourth members for supporting the chair seat, each fourth member being pivoted to a respective third member, at a point adjacent the pivot point between the third member and the respective extending portion, and to a second end of a respective first member, and being disposed in the respective said vertical plane.

Such carriage may be equipped with devices affording stability to the carriage when its open utility or "working" position and providing differing angles of rake for the chair-back with respect to the seat, such devices allowing automatic disposal of the chair back, when folding down the carriage and chair, into a position which on completion of the following operation finds the backtucked down onto the seat, regardless of its rake-angle with respect to the seat while in the normal "working" position.

Such a carriage may be provided with (conventional) devices which, whilst enabling adjustment of the angled position of a footrest platform with respect to the seat, at the same time provides for locking of the carriage structure when folded by virtue of the fact that the sides, or wings, and armrests of the actual chair (comprising in effect seat and back) remain embraced between the sideframes establishing the carriage's basic structural format when the latter is in its folded state, and the said device may lock automatically with those devices affording stability as aforesaid and allowing a variety of rake-angles to the chair-back.

Such a carriage may comprise devices which automatically impart transverse rigidity to the footrest platform and lock the basic structural framework of the carriage safety and securely during the erection of the latter from its folded, into its "working" state.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a carriage, in perspective in its open "working" position, constituting a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows the carriage of Figure 1 in perspective from one side while being folded down; Figure 3 shows the carriage of Figure 1, in the same state as in Figure 2, from the rear; Figure 4 shows part of the carriage of Figure 1 from one side and to a larger scale; Figure 5 shows the carriage of Figures 1 to 4 in its folded state and laid out on the ground in full lines, whereas the broken line illustration shows the carriage free-standing in a vertical position;; Figure 6shows a carriage constituting a second embodiment of the invention without its final trim and seen in perspective from a lateral standpoint with the chair-back illustrated in three different rake positions with respect to the seat and with the footrest platform illustrated in two distinct positions with respect to the seat; Figure 7 shows the carriage of Figure 6, in enlarged scale and in perspective from one side, in the initial stage of its being folded down; Figure 8 shows the carriage of Figures 6 and 7 seen from the side, free-standing;; Figure 9 and Figure 9a show a detail of the carriage of Figures 6 to 8 including a device allowing adjustment of the chair-back rake-angle with respect to the seat as well as locking of the carriage into and unlocking from its 'working' position thus allowing its being folded down to the state illustrated in Figure 8, of which operation Figure 9a shows the initial, unlocking stage; Figures 70 and IOa show a further detail of the carriage described of Figure 6 including one of two devices located on respective side-frames making up the carriage, which provide for the stable locking tight of that cross-membered frame located at the rear of the chair-back and interconnecting the two carriage side frames, such locking assuring a good degree of rigidity to the carriage framework when in 'working' position;; Figure 11 shows a further detail of the carriage illustrated in Figures 6 to 8, including one of those devices permitting the carriage's being locked in its folded state, when the chair-back is tucked down into the seat; and Figure 12 shows a part of the carriage of Figures 6 to 11, seen from the front, and demonstrating the contrivance by which transverse stability is imparted to the footrest with the carriage erected.

With reference to the above drawings, 1 and 2 denote the baby-carriage, or push-chair side-frames.

These are interconnected by two further frames 3 and 4 each consisting of a pair of cross-members articulating reciprocally at the crux thereof.

The frame 3 interconnects the lower parts of frames 1 and 2, the respective members thereof articulating with the frames at points close to where the frames 1 and 2 support front 5 and rear 6 carriage wheels.

The frame 4 interconnects only those members belonging to the frames 1 and 2 which support the front carriage wheels 5 (see Figure 3).

The frames 1 and 2 comprise respective pairs of members 7 and 8 which will be referred to hereinafter as first and second members. The first member in each of frames 1 and 2 offers support to a respective rear carriage wheel by way of a yoke 9 affixed to its lower extremity. The second member 8 is disposed alongside and inwardly of the first, with respect to the carriage's transverse dimension.

The lower extremity of the second member 8 supports a respective front carriage wheel 5 by way of a device which allows the said wheel to pivot, whilst the opposite end of the second member 8 extends in linear fashion beyond its points of articulation 11 with the first member 7 into a further portion 8a.

Still with reference to the individual side-frames 1 and 2 of the chair carriage, 12 denotes a third member disposed in the same vertical plane as that containing the second member 8. The lower extremity of the third member 12 is articulated at a point 13 to the further or extended portion 8a of the second member 8, in close proximity to the point 11 at which the first and second members 7 and 8 are pivotally connected.

The third member 12 is provided with a protruding pin 12afor insertion into a slot 8b offered thereto by the extended portion 8a of the second member 8.

Such insertion takes place when the third member 12 is brought into position alongside the extended portion 8a, thus combining in determining the limit to which the frames 3 and 4 can be opened and imparting stability to the carriage in its open, 'working position'.

The third member 12 is provided with a sliding sleeve incapable of being slipped over and onto the upper extremity of the extended portion 8a extending from the second member 8 once the third member 12 is brought into position alongside the portion 8a, thereby rendering the latter stable.

With reference to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, the sleeve 14 provides a fulcrum for one extremity of a first lever 115 forming one of a pair of toggle-joined levers which enable the chairback, by conventional means, to adopt two fixed position, different rake angles with respect to the chair-seat (see Figure 1).

The chair-back 16 is hinged at points 16a to the third members 12 of each frame 1 and 2 (see Figure 3).

The second lever 18 of the said pair is pivoted in mid-section to the chair-back 16 whilst articulating at one extremity with first lever 115. The other extremity of the lever 18 is provided with a grip facilitating the manipulation thereof.

The levers 115 and 18 are connected in such a way that, by rotating the lever 115 anti-clockwise from the position illustrated in Figure 1, a like anticlockwise movement is produced simultaneously in the lever 18 and, at the same time, the chair-back 16 is lowered into the position shown in Figure 1 in broken lines, leaving the levers 115 and 18 disposed mutually alongside to an extent.

By rotating the lever 115 in the opposite direction to that previously described, away from second position thus reached, the chair-back 16 is returned to its initial position.

19 denotes a fourth member making up each of the compiete carriage frames 1 and 2. The fourth member 19 connects the third member 12 with the upper extremity of the first member 7 and, in the embodiment illustrated, is basically L-shaped with an elbow disposed downward and toward the point 13 at which the third member 12 articulates with the extended portion 8a of the second member 8.

The fourth member 19 connects with the third member 12 at a point set at a distance from the point 13, thus ensuring that rotation of the member 12 through an anticlockwise course (Figures 1,2 and 4) will produce a like movement in the first member 7 causing gradual folding down of the respective frame 1 and 2 in which it is incorporated.

Taking the baby-carriage as a whole, 20 denotes two panels constituting sides or wings for the chair-seat as well as armrests for the complete chair.

The panels 20 are fixed to the fourth members 19 of either frame 1 and 2 and are spaced apart by a distance such as to accommodate a pair of parallellydisposed headrest panels 21 therebetween, the latter conjoining with the chair-back 16.

22 denotes a pair of box-sections affixed to the fourth members 19 and disposed adjacentlytothe outward faces of the panels 20. Besides affording support to the panels 20, the box-sections 22 have the additional function of encasing conventional, and therefore undescribed, devices which allow adjustment of the position of a footrest 23 with respect to the chair-seat 17.

Bearing in mind the description thus far, the adjustment of the carriage from a sitting to a reclining posture is achieved simply by sliding the sleeves 14 upwardly along the third members 12 to the point where the extended portions 8a of second members 8 are freed. By doing this, the levers 115 and 18 are drawn automatically into a position in which they lie almost parallel with the third members 12, bringing the chair-back, regardless of its original position, 16 to the state where its associated panels 21 are contained between the third members 12.

By pushing forward on the third members 12 at this juncture (see Figures 2 and 5), the chair-back 16 is caused to turn toward the chair-seat 17 bringing about simultaneous folding of the frames 1 and 2 with the wheels 5 and 6 still planted on the ground.

The above closure of the frames 1 and 2 occasions simultaneous folding of the frames 3 and 4 up to the point where all the carriage's component parts are gathered into a single bundle as illustrated in Figure 5, with the panels 20 embraced between the third members 12.

The extended portions 8a of the second members 8 are of a length such that, with the carriage in its folded state, they combine with the rear wheels 6 in providing a base on which to set the carriage in a stable upright position, thus exploiting the free extremities of the extended portions 8a.

In the embodiments as illustrated in Figures 6 to 11, each of the sleeves 14 offers attachment to a lever arm 15 which will be further described hereinafter, and which affords the possibility of differing rake-angles to the chairback 16, with respecs to the carriage chair-seat 17.

As has been previously stated, the sleeve 14 is mounted so as to slide along the third member 12; furthermore, its lower rear offers a recess into which the extended portion 8a of second member 8 may be firmly inserted by its upper most extremity, whilst at the fore of said sleeve 14 a hook-like protrusion 14a, which will be further described hereinafter, is duly located.

The wall of the sleeve 1 4facing inwardly to the actual carriage is provided with a first pin 24 which engages a longitudinal slot 15a of a lever arm 15 by sliding therein, and with a second pin providing support for a roller wheel 25 disposed at the underside of the lever arm 15.

In the embodiment illustrated, the slot 15a has a pair of notches 26 designed to accept the firm insertion of the first pin 24 which, thus lodged, affords two different fixed angles to rake to the chair-back with respect to the chair-back with respect to the chair-seat 17 denoted by A and B in Figure 6.

The lever arm 15 articulates at one extremity with the chair-back 16 at a point 1 sub, the slot 15a extending to within close proximity of the point of articulation in order that chair-back 16 may be brought to a third, reclining position denoted by C in Figure 6 in which the child or baby can adopt an almost recumbent posture.

With the carriage in its open 'working' position, manipulation of the lever arm 15 produces easy placement of the chair-back 16 into any of positions A, B or C either by engaging the first pins 24 in the desired notches 26 or by sliding the pins through to the forward extremity of the slots 155 that extremity being located in the vicinity of the point 1 sub at which the lever arms 15 articulate with the chair-back 16.

Likewise in this embodiment, upward sliding of the sleeve 14 along the third members 12 causes unlocking of the third members from the extended portions 8a of the second members 8 forming part of frames 1 and 2, as well as automatic positioning of the chair-back 16 regardless of whichever of the positions A, B or C it has been disposed in hitherto, into the same plane as that containing the third members 12 of each frame 1 and 2. In fact, this upward sliding of the sleeves 14 along the third members 12 produces the gradual rotation of the lever arms 15, in a clockwise direction as may be perceived from Figures 6 to 9a of the drawings, with the consequent sliding of the first pins 24 along the respective slots 15a thereof.At the outset of the operation or, alternatively, in the event of the pins 24 being engaged in the notches 26, the rotation of the lever arms 15 is followed by the undersides thereof coming against the roller wheels 25, thus urging the lever arms 15 from beneath and causing the exit of the first pins 24 from whichever slots they were engaging and permitting their subsequent sliding within the respective slots 15a.

37 denotes a stop element located on each of the third members 12 in a position limiting upward sliding of the sleeves 14. The fixture point of the stop element 37 is determined such that, when the carriage is being folded down, protrusions or catches 14a located on the sleeve 14 engage complementary protrusions or catches 27a on a pair of tabs 27 (shown better in Figure 11) which form a corporate part of the aforementioned devices allowing for the adjustment into the desired angle of the footrest 23 with respect to the carriage chair-seat. The tabs 27 are disposed at the forward-facing extremity of the box-sections 22 and thus iie adjacent to the outer walls of the panels 20.

A device will now be described which combines in rendering the carriage structure stable when in 'working' position, with the aid of Figures 10 and lOs, there being two identical devices, one for each ofthe frames 1 and 2.

As previously stated, the frame 4 interconnects only the second members 8 of the frames 1 and 2.

The frame 4 consists of cross-members 4a and 4b articulating reciprocally at their middles (see Figure 12). The lower extremities of the numbers 4a and 4b articulate directly with the second members 8 of the frames 1 and 2, whilst their respective upper extremities connect with the respective second members 8 by way of corresponding sleeves 28 mounted on and sliding along the extended portions 8aof the second members 8.

Each sleeve 28 slides back and forth along one respective extended portion 8a of the second member 8 to and from a position wherein it abuts with a fitting 29 mounted permanently on the extended portion and constituting an anchorage for the pivot providing point 13 at which the third member 12 articulates with the extended portion 8a. The upperside of each sleeve 28 has a pair of flanks 30 (one only of which is visible in Figure 10) these being parallel and spaced apart by a distance such as to accommodate that stretch of third member 12 which comes therebetween with the carriage opened out in 'working' position.

The flanks 30 and the uppermost edges thereof also serve to define cam-profiles which engage two cam-follower rollers 31 (one only of which is visible in the drawings) carried by a fitting 32 attached to the third member 12, the fitting also bearing the pivot permitting articulation between the latter and the fourth member 19. The cam-profiles are inclined with respect to the axis of the second members 8 in such a way as to create an arcuate angle therewith whose vertex is oriented in the direction opposite that which would pass through the fitting 29. When the rollers 31 engage the cam-profiles, the sleeve 28 is urged into abuttal with the fitting 29. This comes about, as shown in Figure 10a, when, in taking the carriage to its erected position, the third members 12 are brought to bear alongside the extended portions 8a of the second members 8.

The subsequent insertion of the extended portion 8a extremities into the sleeves 14 renders the carriage stable, there being no possibility of the sleeves 28 sliding away thanks to the constant urging of the rollers against the cam-profiles proffered by the flanks 30 which causes the sleeve 28 to abutwith and against the fittings 29.

Figures 6,7 and 11 illustrate how the carriage is locked into its folded state and how rigidity of the footrest 23 is obtained during use.

Once the third members 12 come to rest upon the box-sections 22, the catches 14a of the sleeves 14 (see Figure 11) urge against the tabs 27 occasioning a slight re-entry of the latter into the box-sections 22 and thus achieving correct engagement with the corresponding catches 27a. The secure coupling of the catches 14a and 27a is assured by springs (not illustrated in the drawings) and which tabs 27 are equipped for opposing the re-entry of the tabs into the box-sections 22.

In the state thus described the carriage may be taken up by handles 33 and carried with ease on the arm or, alternatively, set free-standing on the ground by exploiting the base provided by the rear wheels 6 and the extremities of the extended portions 8a extending from the second member 8.

Erection of the carriage into its position for normal use requires only manipulation of the tabs 27 thereby freeing the catches 14a from the catches 27a, placement of the third members 12 alongside the second members 8, and insertion of the extended portion 8a extremities into the corresponding sleeves 14.

In the carriage shown in Figures 6 and 12, the foot-rest plate or platform 23 consists of a pair of flat elements 34, made preferably of a plastics subst ance, connected both to each other, uninterruptedly, and to two arms 35 articulated with the side frames 1 and 2 at the point of articulation between the latters' first 7 and fourth 19 members.

36 denotes a sub-frame consisting of two crossmembers 38 articulated together at their middle portions and having upper extremities connected to the arms 35 and lower extremities connected to the flat elements 34.

With the carriage erected, the sub-frame 36 en sures that force exerted upon the footrest 23 will not produce any appreciable bending thereof and also rules out, to all intents and purposes, those stresses which might occasion inward bending of the first member 7 fore-sections with resultant spreading of the rear carriage wheels 6.

When folding the carriage down, the cross members 38 push downward onto the flat elements 34 bringing about their closing up and hence causing the footrest 23 to fold in the manner of a book.

Claims (10)

1. A folding baby-carriage or push-chair com prising: a pair of side frames, each of which comprises first and second cross-members pivoted together at respective middle portions thereof and carrying wheels at first ends thereof, each second member carrying a front wheel and having a portion extending from the pivot point with the first frame away from the first end thereof; a pair of further frames interconnecting the first frames and each comprising a pair of further cross-members pivoted together at respective middle portions thereof; a chair seat, a chair back and a footrest arranged to fold transversely of the carriage or chair; a pair of third members each pivoted to a respective second cross-member and disposed in a common vertical plane, with the carriage or chain unfolded and resting on the wheels, with the respective extending portion; a pair of sleeves each slidably mounted on a respective third member are arranged to receive a respective extending portion; means pivoted to each of the sleeves for pivotably connecting the chair back to the third members, a lower region of the chair back being pivoted to the extended portions for pivoting about a transverse axis; and a pair of fourth members for supporting the chair seat, each fourth member being pivoted to a respective third member, at a point adjacent the pivot point between the third member and the respective extending portion, and to a second end of a respective first member, and being disposed in the respective said vertical plane.

2. Afolding baby-carriage/push-chair comprising carriage side-frames interconnected by two further frames disposed transversely thereto and each comprising a pair of cross members articulated reciprocally at the crux thereof, a chair-seat, a chair-back and a footrest either made of a folding material or arranged to fold transversely with respecs to the carriage, each of the carriage side frames comprising first and second cross-members articulating mutually in mid-section whose lower extremities support wheel-mounting devices, the second cross-member bearing the front wheels and extending upwardly beyond the point of articulation with the first cross-member to provide an extended portion, the extended portion of each of the second cross-member being articulated with a third member disposed within the same vertical plane as that containing the extended portion and provided with a sliding sleeve arranged to accept firm insertion of the extended portion and articulating with means for connecting and articulating the chair-back with the third member, a lower region of the chair-back being hinged at both sides to the extended portions for enabling rotation around an axis transverselydisposed to the carriage, each carriage side-frame incorporating a fourth member articulated to the third member at a point close to the point of articulation of the third member with the extended portion and articulated to the upper extremity of the first members bearing rear carriage wheels, each fourth member being disposed within the same vertical plane as that containing the third member and providing lateral supportto the chair-seat.

3. Afolding baby-carriage as claimed in claim 2, in which each of the fourth members is substantially L-shaped with the elbow thereof pointing downwardly and towards the point where the respective third member articulates with the respective extended portion, two panels being fixed to the fourth members and constituting wings and armrest flank ing the chair-seat, the panels being spaced apart by a distance greater than that separating a pair of headrest panels which are connected to the chairback and are parallel to each other.

4. A folding baby-carriage as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which the chair-back is connected at its upper region to the third members by a pair of lever arms each hinged at one end to the chair-back and having a longitudinal slot in which a first pin fixed to the respective sleeve engages by sliding, the lever arms each having one or more notches spaced relatively apart into which the first pins are insertable, the sleeves being provided with second pins carrying roller wheels arranged to urge the undersides of the lever arms when the sleeves are slid toward the uppermost extremities of the third members, sliding of sleeves being limited by stop elements fixed to each of the third members in a position such as allows a hook-like protrusion or catch of each sleeve to engage a complementary protrusion or catch of tabs disposed at either outer side of the chair-seat when the carriage is in its folded state.

5. Afolding baby-carriage as claimed in claim 2, in which third members are provided with protruding elements or pins disposed towards the extended portions, each extended portion being provided with a slot into which the pin or element is insertable when the third members are brought alongside the extended portions.

6. A folding baby-carriage as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which one of the further frames interconnects only the second members and the upper ends of members of the one further frame are connected to the second members by means of a pair of further sleeves which are slidable along the extended portions, the further sleeves each having at least one cam-profile at an upper region thereof engaged by at least one roller carried by each of the third members, the shape of each cam-profile being such that, during erection of the carriage, the further sleeves are urged into abuttal with a pair of stop elements on the second members located adjacent the point where the second members are articulated to the first members.

7. Afolding baby-carriage as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 when dependent on claim 3, in which box-sections are fixed to the fourth members and are disposed outwardly of and alongside the panels which constitute the chair-seat wings and armrests, the box-sections providing reinforcementforthe panels and encasing devices for permitting firm adjustment of the carriage footrest with respect to the chair-seat, the devices including tabs protruding from and re-entering elastically into the boxsections.

8. Afolding baby-carriage as claimed in claim 7 when dependent on claim 4, in which the tabs located at either side of the chair-seat are the tabs for permitting adjustment of the footrest angle with respect to the chair-seat.

9. Afolding baby-carriage as claimed in claim 2, in which the footrest comprises a platform having two flat elements hinged together and connected outwardly to two arms articulated to the carriage side-frames, there being provided an articulated sub4rame composed of two cross-members whose uppermost ends are connected to the arms and whose lower ends are connected to the flat elements at points symmetrically disposed with respect to the hinge point of the flat elements.

10. Afolding baby-carriage of push chair, substantially as herein before described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.