GB2179090A

GB2179090A - Fasteners for telescopic handles on pushable wheeled vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2179090A
Application number: GB08520220A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sebastian Orby Conran
Original assignee: Mothercare UK Ltd
Current assignee: Mothercare UK Ltd
Priority date: 1985-08-12
Filing date: 1985-08-12
Publication date: 1987-02-25
Also published as: GB8520220D0

Abstract

The handle member 30 is disposed in telescopic relationship with a housing member 32 of the vehicle and a device 33 releasably locks the members 30,32 in selected telescopic relationships to enable the height of the handle member relative to the wheels' axes to be adjusted. The device 33 comprises a first collar 34 which is securable against axial movement relative to the member 32 and has finger portions 36 which are resiliently deformable radially inwardly for engaging the member 30 for preventing relative axial movement between the members 30,32. A second collar 35 in screw threaded engagement with the housing member 32 cooperates with the first collar to selectively cause this deformation of the finger portions 36. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pushable wheeled vehicles This invention relates to pushable wheeled vehicles, and particularly but not exclusively to pushchairs for infants.

Such vehicles are typically provided with handle means by which they can be pushed and otherwise manoeuvred by a person. Since any given vehicle is likely to be pushed by people of different heights, it is considered advantageous to provide such a vehicle with a handle means which can be adjusted for height. UK Patent Specifications Nos.

2060515A and 1104464 show examples of previous proposals for pushchairs with handles which are adjustable for height. In each of these proposals a threaded pin extends through a part of the pushchair fixed relative to the axes of the wheels thereof and engages a selected one of a series of holes longitudinally spaced apart along a member which is provided with the pushchair's handle means. To adjust the height of the handle means, the pin has to be unscrewed so as to disengage from the hole in the member in which it is located, another hole aligned with the pin, and the pin screwed into that hole.

As will be appreciated this is not particularly convenient, for example because the pin may become unscrewed completely from the pushchair.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pushable wheeled vehicle with a handle means which may be more conveniently adjusted for height.

The invention includes a pushable wheeled vehicle having a handle means provided with a member which is disposed in telescopic relationship with another member of the vehicle which is fixed relative to the axes of wheels of the vehicle when the vehicle is in a condition to be pushed by the handle means, and a device for releasably locking the two members in selected telescopic relationships such that the height of the handle means relative to the wheels' axes is adjustable, wherein said releasable locking device comprises a first means whch is secured, or securable, against axial movement relative to the outer of said two members and which is resiliently deformable radially inwardly for engaging the inner of said two members for preventing relative axial movement between said members, and a second means mounted for cooperation with said first means for selectively causing said radially inward deformation thereof.

The first means may comprise a first collar mounted about said inner member, which collar is provided with at least one radially inwardly deformable portion and the second means may comprise a second collar mounted about said first collar in threaded engagement with said outer member such that axial movement of the second collar relative to the outer member in one direction, on relative rotation between the second collar and the outer member, causes radially inward deformation of the or each deformable portion of said first collar.

The second collar may be arranged to cause said first collar to be secured against axial movement relative to the outer member when said collar is moved axially relative to said outer member in said one direction to cause said radially inwardly deformation of the or each deformable portion of said first collar.

In an advantageous arrangement said first collar is provided with a plurality of said radially inwardly deformable portions formed at one axial end portion thereof as circumferentially spaced apart fingers, the external surfaces of which are part conical and cooperable with a frusto-conical internal surface of said second collar such that axial movement of said second collar relative to the outer member in said one direction causes said internal and external surfaces to cooperate to deflect said fingers radially inwardly into gripping engagement with said inner member.In such an arrangement, the other axial end portion of the first collar may be received within the end portion of said outer member with a radial surface of said first collar between said end portions thereof in abutting relationship with an end face of said outer member such that axial movement of said second collar relative to the outer member in said one direction causes said radial surface to be clamped against said end face.

At least one of the fingers may be provided with a radially inwardly extending projection for engagement in any one of a series of longitudinally spaced recesses on said inner member. In such a case it may be desirable to secure the first collar against rotation relative to the outer member.

Preferably abutment means connected to said outer member and disposed within said inner member are provided for preventing said inner member being withdrawn from said outer member.

Although the handle means may be provided with either the inner or the outer member, in a preferred embodiment of the invention the handle means is provided with the inner member. In this preferred embodiment which comprises a pushchair for an infant the handle means is substantially U-shaped with the two arms thereof forming respective members which are disposed in telescopic relationship with respective side members of the vehicle which are fixed relative to the wheels' axes, and at least one of said arms and the side member in telescopic relationship therewith is provided with a said releasable locking device.

The pushchair of the embodiment is provided with a foldable frame which is movable between an erected condition for being pushed and a folded condition for storage and said other member of the vehicle comprises a member of said foldable frame.

In order that the invention may be well understood, the preferred embodiment thereof referred to above which is given by way of example only will now be described in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective sketch of a pushchair for an infant shown with its frame in an erected condition; Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view of part of the frame of the pushchair; and Figures 3 to 5 show respectively side and axial cross-sectional views of three parts of the pushchair shown in Fig. 2.

Referring first to Fig. 1, there is shown a pushchair 1 for an infant. The pushchair comprises a foldable frame 2 which is illustrated in an erected condition in which it has base, and inclined front and rear structures 3, 4 and 5.

Rear and front wheels 6, 7 are attached to the frame (only one set of front wheels being visible in Fig. 1) adjacent respective corners of the base structure 3 thereof. A handle 8 is mounted to upper side members 9 of the front structure 4 and a seat structure 10 is pivotally attached to the upper side members 9 by pivot devices 11 so as to be able to adopt a plurality of positions relative to the frame including the forward facing inclined position illustrated, a corresponding rearward facing inclined position and substantially horizontal rearward and forward facing positions.

The base structure 3 includes two side members 12 the opposite ends of which are interconnected by two transverse members 13 (shown in dotted line) and a removable storage tray 14 fits over and is located by said members 12, 13.

The front structure 4 comprises the two upper side members 9 referred to above and two lower side members 15 which are pivotally connected to the front of the base structure by pivot connections 16. Each upper side member is pivotally connected to a respective lower side member by a pivot connection 17 such that in the erected condition of the frame the lower side member is parallel to but slightly spaced from the upper side member with the top end portion of the lower side member extending alongside the bottom end portion of the upper side member.In this condition the lower and upper side members on each side of the frame can be restrained against relative pivotal movement at their pivot connections by means of respective lock ing clips 18 which are mounted on the upper side members for pivotal movement about the longitudinal axis thereof and are able to snapfit over the lower side members to retain the upper and lower side members in parallel relationship.

The rear structure 5 comprises two side members 19 each of which is pivotally connected at respective ends by pivot connections 20 and 21 to the base and the front frame structures 3 and 4.

To move the frame from its erected conditions illustrated to a folded condition, the locking clips 18 are released, and upper and lower side members 9 and 15 of the front structure are pivoted about their pivot connections 17; members 15 being caused to pivot in the direction of arrows A about pivot connections 16, members 9 in the direction of arrows B about pivot connections 17 and members 19 in the direction of arrows C about pivot connections 20. Thus, the frame adopts a folded condition with members 9, 15 and 19 all extending substantially parallel to the member 12.

The handle 8 is substantially U-shaped comprising two arms 30 and a cross-piece 31 which is provided with a handle grip. As best seen in Fig. 2, each arm 30 is a tubular member which is disposed in telescopic relationship with a housing member 32 housing the side member 9 of the front frame structure which itself is tubular and also telescopically receives the arm 30. The housing member 32 and side member 9 are fixed against axial relative movement, and a releasable locking device 33 is provided for releasably locking the arm 30 relative to the housing member 32 in selected telescopic relationships such that the height of the handle cross-piece 31 relative to the axes of the wheels 6 and 7 may be adjusted.

The arm 30 is the inner of the two telescopically disposed members 30, 32 but it will be appreciated that in a modified embodiment the arm 30 may be the outer of the two telescopically arranged members.

The locking device 33 comprises a first means, shown as a collar 34 (see particularly Fig. 3), which is secured, or securable, against relative axial movement to the outer, housing member 32 of the two members 30, 32 and which is resiliently deformable radially inwardly for engaging the arm 30 for preventing relative axial movement of the members 30, 32, and a second means, shown as a second col lar 35 (see particularly Fig. 4), mounted for cooperation with the first collar 34 for selectively causing the radially inward deformation thereof.

The collar 34 is provided with at least one radially inwardly deformable portion and in the embodiment four such portions are provided and formed at one axial end portion of the collar 34 as finger portions 36 which are circumferentially spaced apart by axial slots 37.

The collar 35 is mounted about the collar 34 in threaded engagement with the housing member 32 such that axial movement of the member 32 relative to the arm 30 in the di rection of arrow 38, on relative rotation between the collar 35 and the housing member 32, causes radially inward deformation of the finger portions 36. The collar 35 is provided with an internally threaded portion 39 which cooperates with an externally threaded portion 40 of the housing member 32 for this purpose.Furthermore, the external surfaces 41 of the finger portions are part conical and cooperable with a frusto-conical internal surface 42 of the collar 35 such that axial movement of the collar 35 relative to the housing member 32 caused by rotating the former on the latter causes the internal and external surfaces 42, 41 to cooperate to deflect the finger portions 36 radially inwardly into gripping engagement with the arm 30.

The other axial end portion 43 of the collar 34 is of reduced external diameter and received within the end portion of the housing member with a radial annular surface 44 of the collar between its end portions in abutting relationship with an end face 45 of the housing member such that axial movement of the collar 35 relative to the housing member 32 in the direction of arrow 38 causes the radial surface 44 of the collar 34 to be clamped against the end face 45 of the housing member. Thus, the collar 35 is arranged to cause the collar 34 to be secured against axial movement relative to the housing member 32.

It will be appreciated that other means may be provided for securing the collar 34 against axial movement relative to the housing member 32.

Optionally at least one of the finger portions 36 of the collar 34 may be provided with a radially inwardly extending projection 46 (see Fig. 3) for engagement in any one of a series of non-illustrated, longitudinally spaced recesses on the arm 30. If the recesses are not completely circumferentially extending about the arm 30, the collar 34 is secured against rotation relative to the housing member 32 to ensure alignment of the projection(s) 46 with the recesses. This may be achieved, for example, by cooperating key and slot means shown as a key 47 on the collar 34 and a slot 48 in the threaed portion 40 of the hous ing member 32.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that in order to adjust the height of the handle cross-piece 31 relative to the axes of the wheels 6, 7 it is only necessary to rotate the collar 35 of each device 33 so that the collar moves in a direction opposite to arrow 38 relative to the housing member and allows the resiliently deformable finger portions 36 of the collar 34 to be released from gripping engage ment with the arm 30 so that the arm 30 can be moved into another selected telescopic re lationship with the housing member 32.

Thereafter the collar 35 of each device 33 is rotated in the opposite sense so as to move in the direction of arrow 38 relative to the housing member to cause the resiliently defor mable finger portions 36 of collar 34 to grip the arm 30. This operation is easy to perform and because the components of the devices 33 are located about the arm 30 and housing member 32 there is no possibility of them becoming inadvertently separated from the pushchair, even if the collar 35 is completely unscrewed from the housing member 32. This is particularly advantageous since in the embodiment there are two devices 33 each of which has to be operated to adjust the handle cross-piece 31.

To ensure that the handle 8 does not become completely separated from the rest of the pushchair when the deformable finger portions 36 of the collar 34 are not grippingly engaging the arms 30 an abutment means is connected to the outer housing member 32 and is disposed within the inner, arm 30 to prevent the arm 30 being withdrawn from the housing member. In the embodiment, this abutment means comprises an enlarged head member 49 on a rod 50 which passes through a bore 51 of an otherwise closed end portion of the arm 30 and is secured by means of a cross-pin 52 to the housing member 32 and the side member 9. As will be appreciated the head member 49 cannot pass through the bore 51 and therefore acts to limit the relative axial movement apart of the arm 30 and housing member 32 to maintain them in telescopic relationship.

In addition to providing a range of heights for pushing the pushchair, the handle 8 may have its lowest possible height selected primarily in order to make the pushchair more compact when in its folded condition for storage.

Claims

1. A pushable wheeled vehicle having a handle means provided with a member which is disposed in telescopic relationship with another member of the vehicle which is fixed relative to the axes of wheels of the vehicle when the vehicle is in a condition to be pushed by the handle means, and a device for releasably locking the two members in selected telescopic relationships such that the height of the handle means relative to the wheels' axes is adjustable, wherein said releasable locking device comprises a first means which is secured, or securable, against axial movement relative to the outer of said two members and which is resiliently deformable radially inwardly for engaging the inner of said two members for preventing relative axial movement between said members, and second means mounted for cooperation with said first means for selectively causing said radially inward deformation thereof.

2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first means comprises a first collar mounted about said inner member, which collar is provided with at least one radially inwardly deformable portion and wherein said second means comprises a second collar mounted about said first collar in threaded engagement with said outer member such that axial movement of the second collar relative to the outer member in one direction, on relative rotation between the second collar and the outer member, causes radially inward deformation of the or each deformable portion of said first collar.

3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second collar is arranged to cause said first collar to be secured against axial movement relative to the outer member when said second collar is moved axially relative to said outer member in said one direction to cause said radially inwardly deformation of the or each deformable portion of said first collar.

4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein said first collar is provided with a plurality of said radially inwardly deformable portions formed at one axial end portion thereof as circumferentially spaced apart fingers, the external surfaces of which are part conical and co-operable with a frusto-conical internal surface of said second collar such that axial movement of said second collar relative to the outer member in said one direction causes said internal and external surfaces to cooperate to deflect said fingers radially inwardly into gripping engagement with said inner member.

5. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4 when appended to claim 3, wherein the other axial end portion of said first collar is received within the end portion of said outer member with a radial surface of said first collar between said end portions thereof in abutting relationship with an end face of said outer member such that axial movement of said second collar relative to the outer member in said one direction causes said radial surface to be clamped against said end face.

6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein at least one of said fingers is provided with a radially inwardly extending projection for engagement in any one of a series of longitudinally spaced recesses on said inner member.

7. A vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first collar is secured against rotation relative to said outer member.

8. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein abutment means connected to said outer member and disposed within said inner member are provided for preventing said inner member being withdrawn from said outer member.

9. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said handle means is provided with said inner member.

10. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said handle means is substantially U-shaped with the two arms thereof forming respective members which are disposed in telescopic relationship with respective side members of the vehicle which are fixed relative to the wheels' axes, and wherein at least one of said arms and the side member in telescopic relationship therewith is provided with a said releasable locking device.

11. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said vehicle comprises a pushchair for an infant.

12. A vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein said pushchair is provided with a foldable frame which is movable between an erected condition for being pushed and a folded condition for storage, and wherein said other member of the vehicle comprises a member of said foldable frame.

13. A pushable wheeled vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.