GB2207643A

GB2207643A - Cradle for child's chair or push-chair

Info

Publication number: GB2207643A
Application number: GB08814684A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jean Bigo
Original assignee: Ampafrance SA
Current assignee: Ampafrance SA
Priority date: 1987-06-23
Filing date: 1988-06-21
Publication date: 1989-02-08
Anticipated expiration: 2008-06-21
Also published as: PT87804A; GB2207643B; PT87804B; IT1219394B; BE1004834A4; ES2009013A6; GB8814684D0; IT8867587A0; DE3821233A1; DE3821233C2

Description

CRADLE FOR A CHILD-CARE ARTICLE.

This invention relates to inclinable or reversible cradles, particularly but not exclusively - for use with baby-carriages; that is to say, to cradles which can move between at least two positions, for example to reverse the position of the cradle with respect to the direction of movement of a push-chair or for moving the cradle from a seat position to a bed position, and vice versa.

The object of the present invention is to improve the cradle described in French Patent No. 85-02373 of the same Applicant, which cradle comprises two lateral longerons for stiffening the cradle and for pivotally mounting the cradle on a chassis, each longeron being constituted of at least two parts connected telescopically, the first part being articulated on the chassis and the second part being connected to the said chassis by a link also articulated on the chassis at a distance from 'the articulation of the first part, this link being arranged so that the distance between the articulations of the telescopically-connected two parts on the chassis and to the connecting rod increases with movement from the seated position to the bed position.

According to the present invention, a cradle which includes on each side a longeron constituted by two telescopically connected parts, has one of the two parts of the longeron carried by a tilting clamp, relative to 2,2076.43 1 which clamp that part may slide axially during the tilting action.

Preferably, the other part of the longeron is articulated coaxially on the clamp.

A cradle according to the invention is advantageously used with an article such as a pushchair, or with a fixed base which rests on the ground and which includes, on each side, a slide carrying the tilting clamp and able itself to slide, preferably freely, on two arms of the chassis which arms are arranged for telescoping or folding.

Advantageously, the part of the longeron which slides relative to the clamp is connected to the chassis by coupling means which are, for example, constituted by a link articulated to the sliding part of the longeron and to the chassis, at a distance from the pivoting axis of the clamp.

Preferably, the link controlling the sliding is constituted by the same link as that which controls the telescoping of the two parts of the longeron.

According to a first embodiment, the articulation of this link to the sliding part of the longeron is situated, relative to the tilting clamp, on the same side as the other part of the longeron articulated to the chassis. The articulation of the link on the chassis is preferably situated substantially vertically below the turning axis of the tilting clamp, such that the 1 cradle can turn approximately 3600. In this case, the cradle should be of the type which is reversible by turning its hammock (or the like) over, the head of the cradle remaining the head end and the foot end remaining 5. the foot end, and the cradle able to present two "bed" positions of maximum extension, 1800 apart.

According to a second embodiment, the articulation of the link on the sliding part of the longeron is situated, relative to the tilting clamp, on the side thereof opposed to the other part of the longeron articulated on the chassis. Preferably, the articulation of the link on the chassis is situated substantially horizontally with respect to the axis of the tilting clamp, between the clamp and the articulation of the link to the longeron for the "bed" position of the cradle.

In this case, the cradle should be of the type reversible by inversion, with interchange of the head and foot ends between the two "seatel positions, for example face-the-road and face-the-mother positions in a push-chair application, these two positions being obtained by tilting the cradle both ways of a single #$bed" position of maximum extension. In this case, the hammock or the like will present a single face for reception of the infant.

This cradle can be mounted on a push-chair chassis or on a fixed base of a child's chair which rests directly on the ground by feet. Such a base can include on each side a front leg and a back leg coupled by a clamp which permits relative pivoting, locking and folding actions.

One of these legs, f or example the rear leg, is extended upwardly beyond the clamp in order to carry the cradle and the link for telescoping the cradle. In turn, the cradle may be carried by a clamp which is pivoted to the f ree upper end of one of the legs. The cradle can include, on each side, a part of the longeron which is fixed on the associated clamp; in a variant, the cradle can include on each side a part of the longeron which slides relative to the clamp.

Advantageously, the part of the cradle which is telescopic and which is attached to the chassis by the link for telescoping is situated at the head end of the cradle.

This invention extends to a push-chair whenever provided with a cradle as described above. This invention further extends to a fixed basa- or other child-care support device whenever fitted with a cradle of this invention, as described herein.

Certain specific embodiments of the invention will now be described in greater detail but by way of example only, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectinal view of one type of push-chair having a cradle according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 and shows, on a larger scale, the structure of the cradle and its mounting on the chassis of the push-chair; Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, but relating to a variant; and Figure 4 is a side view of a cradle used on a fixed chair base.

There is shown in Figures 1 and 2 a cradle according to the present invention and fitted on, by way of example, a particular type of folding push-chair.

The push-chair chassis 1 includes, on each side, a main support arm 2, a front leg 3 carrying front wheels 24, a rear leg or riser 5 carrying rear wheels 25, and a link 26 for coupling the rear leg 5 with the lower end of the main support arm 2. The main parts of the support arm 2 and the front leg 3 are parallel and are connected telescopically.' For that, the front leg 3 carries fixed to it, at its upper rear end, a slide 4 through which the lower part of the main support arm 2 may freely slide. The riser 5 is articulated at 27 about a transverse axis to the lower part of the slide 4. The lower end of the link 26 is articulated at 28, to the rear leg 5, about a transverse axis; the upper end of this link 26 is articulated at 29 to the lower end of the main support arm 2. also about a transverse axis. In a known manner, the telescopic connection of the elements 2 and 3, the articulation of the rear leg to the slide 4 and the coupling rod 26 enable the push- - 6 chair to be folded flat.

Also in a known manner, the cradle 7 is carried by a sleeve 30 through which pas-s the elements 2 and 3, which sleeve is situated between the slide 4 and the articulation 29. According to the need, the sleeve 30 can slide freely on the elements 2 and 3, during folding, or else its position, during folding, can be controlled positively by coupling means acting between it and the push-chair chassis 1.

The cradle 7 is constituted, on each side, by a longeron 8 which is made up of two parts 8a and 8b, connected telescopically. The ends of the parts 8a and 8b can carry transverse members. 12 and 13 respectively, for connection with the longeron 8 situated on the other 15 side of the cradle.

The cradle 7'is carried by the sleeve 30 by means of a tilting clamp 31 which permits the tilting of the cradle and the locking thereof in the desired position. The structure of the clamp 31 is otherwise well known 20 and therefore will not be described here.

Part 8a, of the longeron is coupled to the clamp 31 by a rod 32 which is mounted at 32' on the clamp 31 and which is shaped so as to be terminated by a rectilinear part extending along the part 8b. The rod is able to slide axially relative to part 8b and is housed in a slide 33 carried in a fixed manner by the part 8b or the part 8a. Because the part 8a turns with the turning part of the clamp 31, part 8a is articulated on the chassis 1 coaxially with this clamp.

Part 8b also is carried by the clamp 31, not only so as to tilt about the 'transverse axis of this clamp, but also in a sliding manner in the axial direction while being housed in a slide 34 f ixed to the turning part of the clamp. The sliding of the part 8b relative to the clamp 31, during the tilting of the cradle, is controlled by coupling means which are advantageously constituted by a link 9 which is articulated at 11, about a transverse axis, on the part 8b, this articulation 11 being situated on the same side as the part 8a, relative to the clamp 31. The link 9 is also articulated at 10, about a transverse axis, on a lug 35 which projects downwards from the sleeve 30. In order to permit the axial sliding of the part 8b during tilting of the cradle, the articulation 10 is situated at a distance from the turning axis of the clamp 31, in such a position that the separation of parts 8a and 8b is caused when the cradle is tilted to the horizontal position.

It is to be understood that-the link 9 which controls the sliding of the part 8b, is the same as that which controls the telescoping of the two parts of the longeron.

When the cradle 7 is tilted about the axis of the clamp 31, the free end of the part 8a describes a circle C which is centred on the axis of the clamp 31, while 1 1 the end of the part 8b, because of the presence of the link 9, describes a non-circular curve B, of elliptical form, such that the useful length of the cradle varies according to its angular position, in order to be maximum for the bed position. During the tilting,, the articulation 11 describes an arc of a circle C' centred on the articulation 10.

With a cradle such as that described above, it is possible to obtain a rotation of the cradle of approximately 3600, which enables it to be given all the desired angular positions and to use cradle trimming which may or may not be reversible.

For that, as shown on the Figures 1 and 2, the articulation 10 is situated vertically below the axis of the clamp. With such an arrangement, the tilting of the cradle 7 is limited only by the link 9 coming against stops on both sides of the slide 34 or of the clamp 31. However, in practice, a tilting of only 1800 is used between the two "bed" positions, facing-the-road and f acing-the -mother, passing through the two "seat" positions. the tilting taking place in such a way that the head end of the cradle remains the head end, and the foot end remains the foot end. In this embodiment, the hammock or the like fitted between the longerons is reversible (or can be turned over) face for face.

By way of example, there are shown on Figure 2 the four positions of the cradle 7 mentioned above, namely, i 9 - the two "bed" positions and the two "seat" positions, one of the "bed" positions being shown in full lines and the other three positions being shown schematically in chain lines. For the two symmetrical "seat" positions, the hammock 40 is shown in dashes.

In Figure 3, there is illustrated a variant applied, for example, to the same type of push-chair. The chassis of the push-chair 1 and the longerons 8 are the same as in the preceding embodiment. Thus the same reference numbers are employed in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, and these parts will not be described again here.

In this embodiment, the lug 35, which is carried in a fixed position by the sleeve 30, is bent horizontally so that the articulation 10 of the link 9 is horizontal with respect to the axis of the clamp 31 and on the other side thereof relative to part 8a. In the horizontal "bed" position of the cradle 7, the link 9 is extended horizontally so as to be articulated at 11 on the longeron 8 in such a way that the articulation 10 is situated between the clamp 31 and the articulation 11 With this arrangement, the cradle 7 has a maximum length for the single "bed" position represented in full lines, the cradle being able to tilt above and below this horizontal position. approximately to the same angle, in order to obtain the two "chair" positions of face-the-road and facethe-mother, shown in chain lines.

- 10 Between the two "chair" positions, there is an inversion of the head and f oot ends; f or that, the hammock 40, represented in dashes, is nonreversible and is of the type which can be "turned over", with the same face of the hammock always receiving the child.

In this embodiment, for the same inclination of the cradle, different inclinations of the seat of the hammock 40 are obtained for-the two Itseat" positions.

Naturally, the arrangements of the cradle described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 could be used on a fixed chair or base, such as that of Figure 4. In this figure, the cradle 7 has been shown only in a schematic and partial manner, and is essentially the same as those shown in Figures 1 to 3.

is The cradle 7 is mounted, as previously, on a clamp 31 for tilting and sliding with respect to the chassis 1 of a seat or fixed base, and can tilt relative to the latter about a transverse axis 23.

This base rests on the ground by front feet 20 and rear feet 21. The feet 20 and 21, are connected by a clamp 22 allowing pivotingr locking and folding. One of the feet, for example the rear foot 21, is extended upwards beyond the clamp 22 to carry the clamp 31. The part 8b, which is preferably situated on the head side of the cradle, is connected to the chassis by the link 9 which is articulated at 10 about a transverse axis, on the extension of the rear foot 21 and at 11i about a Q z 1 - 11 transverse axis, on the part 8b.

During the tilting of the cradle 7, as shown in chain lines, the part 8a tilts about the articulation 23, while the part 8b, because the articulation 10 is situated at a distance from the articulation 23, opens out or contracts, according to the direction of the tilting, thus causing the useful length of the cradle to be varied, which enables the latter to be extended for the bed position. At the same time, as in the figures 1 10 to 3, the cradle slides relatively to the clamp 31.

If necessary, the degree of extension of the cradle can be adjusted by regulating the distance between the articulation 10 and the clamp 31, as shown in Figure 4.

The invention is not limited to the details of the embodiments described above, nor to the uses of the cradle as described; on the contrary. different variants could be conceived without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An inclinable or reversible cradle for a childcare article, which cradle has two lateral longerons for stiffening and pivotally mounting the cradle on a chassis of said article, each longeron being constituted of at least two parts joined telescopically, the first part being articulated on the chassis and the second part being connected to the chassis by a link which is also articulated to the chassis at a distance from the articulation thereto of the first part. said link being arranged so that the distance between the articulations of said first and second parts bn the chassis and to the link respectively increases as the cradle is moved from a seat position to an extended position, one of said first and second parts' of the telescopically-connected longeron being carried by a tilting clamp relative to which said one part can slide axially when the longeron is tilted.

2. A cradle according to claim 1, wherein the second part of the longeron is articulated to the chassis coaxially with the clamp.

3. A cradle according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the clamp is carried by a slide adapted for sliding movement with respect to two arms of the chassis, which arms are connected telescopically.

4. A cradle according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein coupling means are provided to connect the part o the t j 'i 1 longeron which slides relative to the clamp to the chassis.

5. A cradle according to claim 4, wherein the coupling means comprises a link articulated to said sliding part of the longeron and to the chassis at a distance from the pivoting axis of the clamp. -

6. A cradle according to claim 5. wherein the link controlling the sliding comprises said link which controls the telescoping of the two parts of the longeron.

7. A cradle according to claim 5 or claim 6. wherein the articulation of said link to the sliding part of the longeron is situated, relative to the tilting clamp, on the same side as the other part of the longeron articulated to the chassis.

8. A cradle according to claim 7, wherein the articulation of the link on the chassis is situated substantially vertically below the turning axis of the clamp.

9. A cradle according to claim 8, wherein there is provided a hammock or the like which is reversible by being turned face-for-face, the head end and the foot end of the cradle always remaining the same though the cradle may present two 'bed' positions of maximum extension, 1800 apart.

10. A cradle according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the cradle may turn through substantially 3600 relative - 14 to the clamp.

11. A cradle according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the articulation of the link on the sliding part of the longeron is situated, relative to the tilting clamp, on 5 the side thereof opposed to the other part of the longeron articulated on the chassis.

12. A cradle according to claim 11, wherein the articulation of the link on the chassis is situated substantially horizontally with respect to the axis of the clamp, between the clamp and the articulation-of the link to the longeron for the "bed" position of the cradle.

13. A cradle according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the cradle may provide two "seat" positions obtained by tilting of the cradle to both sides of a single "bed" position whereat the longerons are at maximum extension, the cradle having a hammock or the like which presents a single face for receiving the child.

14. A cradle according to any one of claims 1 to 12, 20 wherein the cradle is adapted for mounting on a pushchair chassis.

15. A push-chair comprising a cradle whenever having a cradle according to any of claims 1 to 14 mounted thereon.

16. A child's chair comprising a cradle according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the chair comprises a chair base having legs which support the cradle above the ground.

11 4 1

17. A chair according to claim 16, wherein the chair base includes, on each side, a7 front leg and a rear leg coupled by a clamp which permits relative pivoting, locking and folding actions of the legs.

18. A chair according to claim 17, wherein one of the legs is extended upwardly beyond the clamp and carries the cradle and the link for telescoping the cradle.

1.9. A chair according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the cradle is carried by a clamp which is pivoted to the end of one of said legs.

20. A chair according to claim 19, wherein the cradle includes, on each side, one part of the longeron fixed to said clamp.

21. A chair according to claim 19, wherein the cradle includes, on each sidef one part of the longeron which is mounted to slide relative to the said clamp.

22. A chair according to any one of claims 16 to 21, wherein the telescopic part of the longeron which is connected to the chassis by the link is situated at the head end of the cradle.

23. A cradle for a child care article and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

24. A pushchair substantially as hereinbefore described 25 with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

25. A child's chair substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

JI Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 66071 High Holborn, London WC1R 4TP. Further copies maybe obtained from The Patent "cc, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray. Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, st mary cray, Kent. con. 1187.