GB2178306A - An adjustable back reclining mechanism for a baby stroller - Google Patents

Abstract

An adjustable back reclining mechanism for use in a baby stroller or the like comprises a supporting means that is movable between an upright sitting position (Fig. 1) and a horizontal sleeping position (Fig. 3) and means for controlling the rate of descent of the supporting means between these positions. The controlling means may comprise hub 44 supported on fixed spindle 46 and a pair of cords 48, 50 having ends 52, 54 secured in notches 56, 58 and wound on hub 44, the opposite ends (60) being secured to opposite sides of the supporting means. Manual movement of the back reclining mechanism (10) downwards causes cards 48, 50 to unwind, thereby rotating hub 44 counterclockwise and tensioning a helical spring 62 which biases the hub in a clockwise direction. Movement of the mechanism (10) upwards causes slack in cords 48, 50 which is taken up by hub 44 driven by spring 62. A single cord passing through hub 44 may be used and the mechanism also includes latching means. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An adjustable back reclining mechanism for a baby stroller Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to baby support vehicles, and more specificaily to an adjustable back reclining mechanism for a baby stroller or the like.

Summary of the Invention In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, an adjustable back reclining mechanism for a baby stroller or the like is disclosed. The back reclining mechanism comprises a frame having means mounted thereon for supporting the back or upper body portion of a baby in a plurality of reclining positions varying from an upright position to a horizontal position. Latching means are provided for selectively releasably latching the baby supporting means in one of the plurality of reclining positions. The back reclining mechanism further has means for controlling the rate of descent or movement of the baby supporting means from the upright position to the horizontal position so that a baby in the stroller is not moved too rapidly between the reclining positions.

In a more specific aspect of the invention, the baby supporting means comprises a back support member pivotally mounted on the frame. Flexible foldable side members connect the back support member to the frame. The controlling means comprises a rotatable hub mounted on the baby supporting means. A pair of cords are provided, each having one end secured to opposite sides of the baby supporting means and the opposite ends thereof secured to the outer periphery of the hub at substantially diametrically opposed points. A spring is coupled to the hub which is tensioned when the cords are unwound from the hub upon movement of the back support memberto its horizontal position. The tensioned spring drives the hub to wind up the cords on the hub upon movement of the back support member to its upright position.

Latching means are mounted at the rear of the hub and comprise a central bore in the hub having angularly spaced notches on its inner periphery. A spring biased, reciprocally movable release button is coupled to the hub and has a lug at one end engageable with the inner periphery of the hub. The lug is selectively nestable within the notches upon rotation of the hub for releasably holding the baby supporting means in a selected one of the reclining positions.

A primary advantage of this invention is to provide an adjustable back reclining mechanism for a baby stroller or the like that allows movement of a baby from its upright position to a selected one of the lower positions and can be operated with one hand. Accordingly, a baby or child fallng asleep in the upright position can be gently lowered to the horizontal sleeping position without awakening the baby.

The invention and its advantages will become more apparent from the detailed description of the invention presented below.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the detailed description of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of an adjustable back supporting mechanism incorporated in a baby stroller and shown in its upright position; Figure 2 is a segmental side elevational view of the back support mechanism in an intermediate position; Figure 3 is a segmental side elevational view of the back support mechanism in its horizontal position; Figure 4 is a segmental rear elevational view of the back support mechanism with a portion thereof broken away to show the means for controlling the rate of descent of the baby supporting means; and Figures 5 and 6 are segmental views of the hub latching means in its latched and unlatched positions respectively.

Detailed Description of the Invention Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, a preferred embodiment of an adjustable back reclining mechanism 10 is shown incorporated in a baby stroller 12. The stroller comprises a seat 14 and side arms 16 secured together by a frame 18 formed of tubular members, only one side of which is shown in Figure 1,the other side being a mirror image thereof. Since the sides are identical, only one side will be described in detail.

The back reclining mechanism 10 comprises a pair of back support members 20,22 on stroller 12 joined together for pivotal movement at a pivot 24.

The free end 26 of member 20 is secured to a bracket 28 which is pivotally secured to frame 18 at pivot 30.

The free end 32 of member 22 is pivotally secured at pivot 34 to one of the ends of brace 36, the opposite end of which is secured to frame 18 at pivot 38. The members 20, 22 and brace 36 at each side of stroller 12 support a flexible, foldable fabric material 40 secured thereto by any suitable means to form a protective canopy for the upper body portion of a baby or child. In Figure 1, the back reclining mechanism 10 is in an upright position for supporting the baby or child in a sitting position.

With reference to Figures 2,3 and 4, the back reclining mechanism 10 is shown in intermediate and horizontal or sleeping positions respectively.

Referring to Figure 4, the means for controlling the rate of descent of the back reclining mechanism 10 comprises a housing 42 for rotatably supporting a hub 44 on a fixed spindle 46. A pair of cords 48, 50 are provided having ends 52, 54 respectively secured by an suitable means in substantially diametrically opposed notches 56, 58 respectively in the hub periphery. Cords 48, 50 are wound around hub 44 in counter-clockwise directions, and the opposite ends thereof, of which only end 60 is seen, are secured to the frame, as seen in Figures 1-3. A helical spring 62 encircles spindle 46 and has one end secured to the back member 20 and its other end secured to hub 44for biasing the hub in a clockwise direction indicated by arrow B.

In the operation of this invention, manual movement of the back reclining mechanism 10 from the upright position of Figure 1 to the horizontal position of Figure 3 causes cords 48, 50 to unwind from hub 44, thereby rotating hub in a counter clockwise direction as shown by arrow A and tensioning spring 62. These actions provide resistance to the downward movement of back reclining mechanism 10 thereby controlling its rate of descent. Movement of back supporting mechanism 10 in tie opposite direction causes slack to develop in cords 48, 50 which is taken up by hub 44 driven by tensioned spring 62 in the direction of arrow B.

With reference to Figures 4--6, latching means are disclosed for releasably latching back reclining mechanism 10 on the upright, intermediate and horizontal positions shown in Figures 1,2 and 3 respectively. The latching means comprises a plate 64 mounted for reciprocal movement by means of headed pins 66 and slots 68. Plate 64 has a handle 70 at one end and a lug 72 at the other end biased by spring 74 into engagement with the inner periphery 76 of a bore 78 located at the rear end of hub 44.

Inner periphery 76 is provided with angularly spaced notches 80 engageable by lug 72 as seen in Figure 5 for releaseably holding hub 44 in a selected upright, intermediate or horizontal position. To move back reclining mechanism 10 to a selected different position, plate 64 is depressed by handle 70 as seen in Figure 6 and the mechanism manually moved to the selected position at which point lug 72 bottoms in the complementary notch 80. While the invention has been described in connection with an embodiment utilizing two cords, 48 and 50, a single cord may be employed that passes through hub 44.

This eliminates the necessity for anchoring the ends of cords 48 and 50 to the hub and is more reliable and less expensive.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (6)

1. An adjustable back reclining mechanism for a baby stroller or the like comprising: a frame; means mounted on said frame for supporting the upper body portion of a baby in a plurality of reclining positions varying from an upright position to a horizontal position; means for releasably latching said baby supporting means in a selected one of the plurality of reclining positions; and means for controlling the rate of movement of said baby supporting means from said upright position to said horizontal position so that a baby in the stroller is gently moved between the reclining positions.

2. An adjustable back reclining mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said controlling means comprises a rotatable hub mounted on said frame, and a pair of cords, each having one end secured to opposite sides of said baby supporting means, and the opposite ends thereof secured to and wound around said hub whereby manual movement of said foldable baby supporting means between said upright and horizontal positions causes said cords to wind onto and wind off of said hub.

3. An adjustable back reclining mechanism according to claim 2 wherein a spring is coupled to said hub, said spring adapted to be tensioned when cords are unwound from said hub upon movement of said foldable baby supporting means to its horizontal position, said tensioned spring driving said hub to wind up said cords on said hub upon movement of said foldable baby supporting means to its upright position.

4. An adjustable back reclining mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said baby supporting means comprises a pivotally mounted back support member, and flexible foldable side members connecting said back support member to said frame.

5. An adjustable back reclining mechanism according to claim 4 wherein said opposite ends of said cords are secured to the outer periphery of said hub at substantially diametrically opposed points, and said latching means are mounted at the rear of said hub and comprises a central bore in said hub having angularly spaced notches on its inner periphery, and a spring biased, reciprocally movable release button coupled to said hub and having a lug at one end engageable with said inner periphery of said hub and selectively nestable within said notches upon rotation of said hub for selectively releasably latching said baby supporting means in one of the plurality of reclining positions.

6. An adjustable back reclining mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.