GB2104850A - Collapsible carriages - Google Patents

Abstract

A collapsible baby or invalid carriage comprises a foldable frame 12, 13, 16 a seat 14, 15 pivotally connected to the frame by a pivot mechanism 25 on one or each side of the frame which locates and retains the seat in anyone of a number of preselected positions. A toggle linkage 18 extending between two frame elements 12, 16 has to be broken from its illustrated condition before the elements 12, 16 can be pivoted closer together about a pivotal connection 17 to bring about folding of the frame. A detent 23 is arranged to prevent the linkage 18 from being broken from its illustrated condition unless the seat is in a preselected one of its predetermined positions. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to collapsible carriages This invention relates to collapsible carriages.

Baby carriages having a frame which can fold up into a bundle or stick are well known. U.K.

Patent Specifications No. 1321085 and 1439942 illustrate examples of such carriages in which it will be noted the frame collapses laterally and in which two lateral elements extending between the handle and the front wheels each comprise two articulated parts which fold together when the frame is folded up so that the front wheels take up a position close to the handle.

In the carriages illustrated in the abovementioned specifications the position of the seat of the carriage is fixed relative to the frame when the frame is in its unfolded condition and collapses together with the frame when the frame is folded up.

Carriages are also known in which the seat is movable relative to the frame by being pivotally connected thereto. For example, the seat may comprise two longitudinal elements each pivotally connected to respective ones of the lateral elements of the frame. A problem with such carriages is that the frame will not fold up satisfactorily and/or will damage the seat if the seat is not in a predetermined position when the carriage is collapsed.

According to the present invention, there is provided a collapsible carriage comprising a foldable frame, a seat pivotally connected to the frame, and means for preventing folding of the frame unless the seat is in a predetermined position relative thereto.

Advantageously the folding preventing means is cooperable with means pivotally mounting the seat to the frame.

The invention is particularly applicable to carriages for babies, but it is to be understood that it is also applicable to other carriages, for example invalid carriages.

In order that the invention may be well understood, an embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only, will now be described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 to 3 show a baby carriage comprising a frame and seat pivotally connected thereto with the seat in respective positions relative to the frame; Figure 4 is a sketch of part of the carriage with the seat in the position shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a sketch of the same part of the carriage showing the frame in a partially folded condition; and Figure 6 shows a part of a pivot mechanism of the modified carriage.

The collapsible baby carriage 1 shown in Figures 1 to 3 comprises a foldable frame 2 to which a seat 3 is connected for pivotal movement between substantially fully inclined forward and rearward facing positions relative to the frame.

The frame 3 is a development of the frame disclosed in Specification No. 1439942 and differs therefrom in that (1) the X-frame part identified by reference numeral 6 in the prior specification has been modified to allow the pivotal seat 2 to be fully inclined and to this end comprises two elements 4, 5 which are pivoted together at respective intermediate cross-pieces 6, 7, which are substantially horizontal when the frame is unfolded, and (2) the frame members identified by reference 4 in the prior specification and by reference 8 herein which are no longer required as part of the seat connect with the lateral elements 9 extending between the handles 10 and front wheels 11 of the carriage somewhat closer to the front wheels and the links 19 extending between these members 8 and the bracing means 12 (reference 5 in the prior specification) are oriented somewhat differently.

The method of folding of the frame is the same as in the prior specification -- the frame collapses laterally and the articulated parts, here identified as 12 and 13, of the lateral elements 9 fold together so that the front wheels 11 take up a position close to the handle 10.

The seat 3 comprises two longitudinal elements 14, each pivotally connected about a horizontal axis to respective ones of the lateral elements 9. A sling-like seat piece 15 is permanently connected to, and extends between, the elements 14 to form a seat or 'cradle'. The piece is reversible in that the baby is located on one of its surfaces when the seat is in a forward facing position and on the other surface when the seat is in a rearward facing position.

The above described arrangement enables the seat to be pivoted on the frame into a desired position and advantageously the pivot mechanism may incorporate means for locating and retaining the seat in any one of a number of preselected positions. However, the provision of the pivotal seat presents a problem in that the frame will not fold up satisfactorily and/or will damage the seat if the seat is not in a predetermined one of the preselected positions when the carriage is collapsed. This predetermined position is the position illustrated in Figure 3 in which the longitudinal seat elements 14 extend substantially parallel to the lateral elements 9.

To ensure that the frame will fold without jamming and/or causing damage to the seat, we provide means for preventing folding of the frame unless the seat is in the predetermined position illustrated in Figure 3.

For the frame to fold the frame elements 1 6 and 1 2 have to pivot closer together about their pivotal connection 1 7 as indicated by the arrows A in Figure 4. To prevent such pivotal movement there is provided on at least one, and possibly each respective side of the carriage, a toggle linkage 1 8 which extends between and is pivotally connected to the frame elements 16 and 12 and which must be broken from its condition shown in Figure 4 by pivotal movement of its two members 19 and 20 as indicated by arrows B before the frame elements 12 and 1 6 can be pivoted closer together to allow folding of the frame to occur.Such breaking movement of the toggle linkage is accompanied by a generally upward movement (i.e. towards the handles) of the pivot interconnection 21 between the linkage members 19 and 20 which pivot interconnection passes through a slot 22 of a detent member 23 which is pivotally connected about pin 24 to a pivot mechanism 25 which pivotally mounts the longitudinal seat element 14 to the part 12 of the lateral element 9.

The pivot mechanism locates and retains the seat element 14 4 in any one of a number of preselected positions relative to the part 1 2 but prevents pivotal movement of detent member 23 about pin 24 in the direction of arrow C in all but one of these selected positions - the predetermined position wherein the element extends substantially parallel to the part 12. As will be appreciated such pivotal movement of detent member 23 is required to allow the genera!ly upward movement of interconnection 21 required for breaking movement of the toggle linkage 1 8 from its condition shown in Figure 4.

Figure 5 shows the relative positions of the frame parts, toggle linkage and detent member during such breaking movement.

Referring now to Figure 6, the pivot mechanism includes a control plate 26 which is pivotal about axis 27 (which corresponds with the pivotal axis of the seat) with the seat element 14 and includes bores 28 for receiving a biased locating pin 29 (Figures 4 and 5) which passes through frame part 12 to thereby locate and retain the control plate 26 and thus the seat element 14 in any one of four angular positions relative to the frame part 1 2. These positions correspond to two forward and two rearward facing positions of the seat.

An arcuate slot 30 is provided for receiving an additional securing means 31 (Figures 4 and 5) which is diametrically opposite the pin 29 and is securable by means of a fastening knob, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3. The peripheral profile of the control plate 26 is cooperable with and controls pivotal movement of the detent member 23, the recess 32 allowing pivotal movement of the detent member 23, and breakage of the toggle linkage only when the control plate is in an angular position in which the pin 29 can locate in the bore 28 corresponding to the position in which the seat element 14 is substantially parallel to the part 12 of element 9 (i.e. the Figure 3 position). In any other position the circular periphery 33 of the plate prevents such pivotal movement of the detent member 23 by engaging arcuate surface 34 thereof thereby preventing breaking of the toggle linkage and folding of the frame In Figure 6, the detent member 23 is shown during its pivotal movement.

The arrangement illustrated in Figure 4 to 6 may be provided on each side of the carriage, but it is not essential to inciude either the detent member or the pin locating system on both sides.

Claims (11)

Claims

1. A collapsible carriage comprising a foldable frame, a seat pivotally connected to the frame, and means for preventing the folding of the frame unless the seat is in a predetermined position relative to the frame.

2. A carriage as claimed in claim 1, wherein said folding preventing means is arranged to prevent two frame elements of the foldable frame from pivoting closer together about a pivotal connection therebetween.

3. A carriage as claimed in claim 2, wherein said folding preventing means comprises a linkage extending between, and pivotally connected to, said two frame elements, control means for maintaining said linkage in a condition to prevent said elements from pivoting closer together about said pivotal connection when said seat is not in a said predetermined position and for allowing said linkage to pivot from said condition and permit said two frame elements to pivot together when said seat is in a said predetermined position.

4. A carriage as claimed in claim 3, wherein said control means comprises a detent arranged to prevent pivotal movement of said linkage from said condition about a pivot thereof when said seat is not in a said predetermined position and to allow pivotal movement of the linkage about said pivot thereof when said seat is in a said predetermined position.

5. A carriage as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said folding preventing means is cooperable with means pivotally mounting the seat to the frame.

6. A carriage as claimed in claim 5 when appended to claim 4, wherein said means pivotally mounting the seat to the frame includes a control plate pivotal with the seat and having a profile cooperable with said detent to prevent said detent allowing pivotal movement of said linkage when said seat is not in a said predetermined position and to allow such pivotal movement when said seat is in a said predetermined position.

7. A carriage as claimed in claim 6, wherein said detent comprises a pivotally mounted member having a slot through which said pivot of said linkage passes, said profile of the control plate being cooperable with the detent to prevent pivotal movement of the detent when said seat is not in a said predetermined position and to allow pivotal movement of the detent when said seat is in a said predetermined position.

8. A carriage as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein said means pivotally mounting the seat to the frame comprises means for locating the seat in any one of a plurality of preselected positions relative to said frame, said predetermined position being one of said preselected positions.

9. A carriage as claimed in claim 7, wherein said preselected positions comprise substantially fully inclined forward and rearward facing positions and intermediate forward and rearward facing positions.

10. A collapsible carriage comprising a foldable frame, a seat pivotally connected to the frame and means substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 4 to 6 for preventing the folding of the frame unless the seat is in a predetermined position relative to the frame.

11. A collapsible carriage substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.