GB2134456A

GB2134456A - Perambulator

Info

Publication number: GB2134456A
Application number: GB8303749A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Howard L Cooper
Original assignee: CHELFUL Ltd
Current assignee: CHELFUL Ltd
Priority date: 1983-02-10
Filing date: 1983-02-10
Publication date: 1984-08-15
Also published as: GB8303749D0

Abstract

A perambulator comprises a spaced pair of side supports (6), connected together only by axles (8) and by rods (14) at their upper ends, the rods passing through the body (1) of the perambulator, which thus serves to space the side supports apart, the latter not needing to be formed into a separate rigid supporting frame for the body. As shown each side support 6 comprises an "X" frame of pivoted members 7a, 7b. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Perambulator This invention relates to a perambulator and especially, but not exclusively, to a toy perambulator.

It is usual to form perambulators in two parts, a wheel supportwhich which may be folded to reduce bulk, and a bvody secured to the support. It has now been found that a substantial simplification of the construction of perambulators can be achieved by making the body also serve as part of the wheeled support.

According to one aspect of the invention a perambulator comprises a spaced pair of side supports each carrying at the lower part thereof a pair of axles, each axle supporting at least one wheel, the supports being connected together at the lower parts thereof by at least one cross-member, and a body between the upper parts of the side supports and connected thereto such that the body serves to space the side supports apart.

Preferably the side supports each comprise a pair of tubes pivotally connected adjacent to the centres thereof. A rod may be passed through the upper end of each tube to pass through the upper end of the corresponding tube of the opposite side support.

The rod may be retained in place by a retaining cap or washer on each end thereof and may pass through a portion ofthe body.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method of securing an axle in a tubularframework comprises forming a portion of the axle into a loop adapted to receive therein a tube from the framework, and securing the tube in the loop.

The tube maybe secured in the loop by drilling a hole in the tube wall and in the loop in the axle, aligning the holes and riveting the axel to the tube at the holes. Preferably, only one hole is drilled in the tube wall and a rivet is used which is deformable from one end thereof.

This aspect of the invention permits a reduction in the number of components required to secure an axle to a tubular frame, for example of a toy perambulator, as well as a possible reduction in the number of holes to be drilled in the tube, thus increasing the resultant strength of the framework.

Reference is made to the drawings, in which Figure lisa perspective view from beneath a toy perambulator in accordance with the invention: Figure 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the underside of the body of the perambulator shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view from below showing the method of securing the axles of the perambulator shown in Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the body of the perambulator shown in Figure 1, showing the fixing of the cover thereto.

The toy perambulator has a moulded plastic body 1 to which a folding hood 2 is secured at one end and a cover 3 can be fitted over the other end. The body 1 has four lugs 4 integrally moulded into the lower surface thereof. Each lug 4 has a bore 5 therethrough extending tranversely of the body (Figure 2). The body 1 is carried on a pair of supports 6 each consisting of two tubes 7 pivotally joined adjacent their mid-points. The tubes in one support 6 are held apart from those in the other support 6 by axles 8 adjacent to the lower ends of the tubes. The axles are in the form of steel rods and are secured to the tubes 7 by flattening a portion 9 of the rods (Figure 3) and forming the flattened portion 9 into a semi-circular loop which conforms with the outer surface of the tube.A hole is drilled through the portion 9 and into the tube 7, and a rivet 10 is inserted and deformed so as to fasten the components together. A rivet deformable from one end only, e.g. by drawing on a pin passing through a tubular rivet so that the head of the pin at the free end compresses a rivet, is suitable. Since only one hole is required in the wall of the tube 7, the strength of the tube is greater than if the axle were passed through opposed holes in the tube, and fewer components are required.

Wheels 11 are fitted on the projecting ends 12 of the axles 8 and are retained by spring clip washers 13, in conventional manner.

The body 1 is secured to one of the tubes 7 by passing a steel rod 14 through the tubes and through two of the lugs 4. A spacing sleeve 15 is fitted between each lug 4 and the adjacent tube 7a and spring clips 16 secure the ends of the rod 14. For the upper end of the other tube 7b, the rod is passed instead through the U-shaped tubular handle 17 which is pivotally linked to the tube 7b through brackets 18, slidable oval rings 19 holding the handle in place, in conventional manner. It will be seen that the body 1 forms part of the structure of the underframe of the perambulator, without the need for separate cross-members to rigidify the frame.

Equally, the direct riveting of the axles also increases rigidity without the need for additional crossmembers.

Folding of the perambulator is achieved by sliding the oval rings 19 upwardly until they are above the ends of the tubes 7b. The handle 17 is then moved towards the hood 2, being arranged to clear the hood, and this causes the wheels to move apart and upwards until the tubes 7a, 7b and 17 lie in generally the same plane.

The cover 3 is held in place by small patches 20 of looped fabric secured to the sides of the body 1 adjacent to the hood 2, the cover 3 being provided with corresponding patches 21 of hooked fabric which can engage the loops of the looped fabric (Figure 4). A suitable material is sold under the Registered Trade Mark "Velcro".

1. A perambulator comprising a spaced pair of side supports each carrying at the lower part thereof a pair of axles, each axle supporting at least one wheel, the supports being connected together at the lower parts thereof by at least one cross-member, and a body between the upper parts of the side supports and connected thereto such that the body serves to space the side supports apart.

2. A perambulator according to Claim 1, wherein each side support comprises a pair of tubes or rods

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Perambulator This invention relates to a perambulator and especially, but not exclusively, to a toy perambulator. It is usual to form perambulators in two parts, a wheel supportwhich which may be folded to reduce bulk, and a bvody secured to the support. It has now been found that a substantial simplification of the construction of perambulators can be achieved by making the body also serve as part of the wheeled support. According to one aspect of the invention a perambulator comprises a spaced pair of side supports each carrying at the lower part thereof a pair of axles, each axle supporting at least one wheel, the supports being connected together at the lower parts thereof by at least one cross-member, and a body between the upper parts of the side supports and connected thereto such that the body serves to space the side supports apart. Preferably the side supports each comprise a pair of tubes pivotally connected adjacent to the centres thereof. A rod may be passed through the upper end of each tube to pass through the upper end of the corresponding tube of the opposite side support. The rod may be retained in place by a retaining cap or washer on each end thereof and may pass through a portion ofthe body. According to another aspect of the invention, a method of securing an axle in a tubularframework comprises forming a portion of the axle into a loop adapted to receive therein a tube from the framework, and securing the tube in the loop. The tube maybe secured in the loop by drilling a hole in the tube wall and in the loop in the axle, aligning the holes and riveting the axel to the tube at the holes. Preferably, only one hole is drilled in the tube wall and a rivet is used which is deformable from one end thereof. This aspect of the invention permits a reduction in the number of components required to secure an axle to a tubular frame, for example of a toy perambulator, as well as a possible reduction in the number of holes to be drilled in the tube, thus increasing the resultant strength of the framework. Reference is made to the drawings, in which Figure lisa perspective view from beneath a toy perambulator in accordance with the invention: Figure 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the underside of the body of the perambulator shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view from below showing the method of securing the axles of the perambulator shown in Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the body of the perambulator shown in Figure 1, showing the fixing of the cover thereto. The toy perambulator has a moulded plastic body 1 to which a folding hood 2 is secured at one end and a cover 3 can be fitted over the other end. The body 1 has four lugs 4 integrally moulded into the lower surface thereof. Each lug 4 has a bore 5 therethrough extending tranversely of the body (Figure 2). The body 1 is carried on a pair of supports 6 each consisting of two tubes 7 pivotally joined adjacent their mid-points. The tubes in one support 6 are held apart from those in the other support 6 by axles 8 adjacent to the lower ends of the tubes. The axles are in the form of steel rods and are secured to the tubes 7 by flattening a portion 9 of the rods (Figure 3) and forming the flattened portion 9 into a semi-circular loop which conforms with the outer surface of the tube.A hole is drilled through the portion 9 and into the tube 7, and a rivet 10 is inserted and deformed so as to fasten the components together. A rivet deformable from one end only, e.g. by drawing on a pin passing through a tubular rivet so that the head of the pin at the free end compresses a rivet, is suitable. Since only one hole is required in the wall of the tube 7, the strength of the tube is greater than if the axle were passed through opposed holes in the tube, and fewer components are required. Wheels 11 are fitted on the projecting ends 12 of the axles 8 and are retained by spring clip washers 13, in conventional manner. The body 1 is secured to one of the tubes 7 by passing a steel rod 14 through the tubes and through two of the lugs 4. A spacing sleeve 15 is fitted between each lug 4 and the adjacent tube 7a and spring clips 16 secure the ends of the rod 14. For the upper end of the other tube 7b, the rod is passed instead through the U-shaped tubular handle 17 which is pivotally linked to the tube 7b through brackets 18, slidable oval rings 19 holding the handle in place, in conventional manner. It will be seen that the body 1 forms part of the structure of the underframe of the perambulator, without the need for separate cross-members to rigidify the frame. Equally, the direct riveting of the axles also increases rigidity without the need for additional crossmembers. Folding of the perambulator is achieved by sliding the oval rings 19 upwardly until they are above the ends of the tubes 7b. The handle 17 is then moved towards the hood 2, being arranged to clear the hood, and this causes the wheels to move apart and upwards until the tubes 7a, 7b and 17 lie in generally the same plane. The cover 3 is held in place by small patches 20 of looped fabric secured to the sides of the body 1 adjacent to the hood 2, the cover 3 being provided with corresponding patches 21 of hooked fabric which can engage the loops of the looped fabric (Figure 4). A suitable material is sold under the Registered Trade Mark "Velcro". CLAIMS

2. A perambulator according to Claim 1, wherein each side support comprises a pair of tubes or rods pivotally connected adjacent to the centres thereof.

3. A perambulator according to Claim 2, wherein the upper end of each tube or rod of one side support has a rod passing therethrough whereby the corresponding tubes or rods of the opposed side supports are coupled together.

4. A perambulator according to Claim 3, wherein the rods are retained in place by a retaining cap or washer on each end thereof.

5. A perambulator according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the rods pass through a portion of the body.

6. A perambulator according to Claim 6, wherein spacing tubes are located over each rod between the body and the side supports.

7. A method of securing an axle in a tubular framework, comprising forming a portion of the axle into a loop adapted to receive therein a tube from the framework, and securing the tube in the loop.

8. A method according to Claim 7, wherein the tube is secured in the loop by drilling a hole in the tube wall and in the loop of the axle, aligning the holes and riveting the axle to the tube through the holes.

9. A method according to Claim 8, wherein only one hole is drilled in the tube wall and a rivet is used which is deformable from one end thereof.

10. A perambulator, substantially as described with reference to, or as shown in, the drawings.