GB2236832A

GB2236832A - Brake-actuating handle bar for pushable vehicle, eg pram or pushchair

Info

Publication number: GB2236832A
Application number: GB8920128A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian John Fulcher; Alan Charles Randall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-09-06
Filing date: 1989-09-06
Publication date: 1991-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2009-09-06
Also published as: GB8920128D0; GB2236832B

Abstract

A sleeve (12) is rotatable around a crossbar (17) of a pushchair or the like and is connected to a brake member which acts on a wheel of the pushchair such that rotation of the sleeve on the crossbar causes the brake member to be selectively engaged with, or disengaged from, the wheel. A stop member (22) is provided on the crossbar which engages with the sleeve to selectively retain the brake member in the engaged or disengaged position. <IMAGE>

Description

Handles The present invention is concerned with handles and, in particular, handles which can be used for braking devices for pushable vehicles such as prams, pushchairs or the like.

U.K. patent specification 1377168 discloses a brake for a pram or the like, which is automatically applied when the pram is not in use. In one embodiment, the brake is operated by a lever mounted to the handle, while in another embodiment, a twist grip mounted on the pram handle is illustrated. In the latter embodiment, no means for attachment of the twist grip are disclosed.

According to the present invention, there is provided a handle of a pushable vehicle; said handle comprising a sleeve shaped to fit over and around a crossbar of said vehicle, said sleeve being rotatable about the crossbar by means of a twist action; a stop member provided on the crossbar which is either fixed or can be constrained in a fixed position; means for connecting the sleeve to a brake arranged to act on at least one wheel of the vehicle; means for engaging the sleeve with the stop member such that the brake can be selectively engaged or disengaged with the wheel.

The stop member is such that it engages with the sleeve such that the brake is normally engaged with the wheel and rotation of the sleeve is needed in order to disengage the brake and permit the vehicle to be pushed. The stop member is preferably such that it can selectively prevent further rotation of the handle, such that the latter can be "locked" in a position where the brake is disengaged from the wheel.

The sleeve typically comprises an inner sleeve member and an outer sleeve member surrounding the inner member.

Preferably at least the outer sleeve member comprises two parts, the two parts having complementary engaging formations (such as an elongate tongue in one part and an elongate groove in the other part) such that the two parts can be fitted to one another along abutting edges thereof, the other edges of the two parts being either secured to, or integral with, one another. The other edges may be hinged together, or they may be provided on separable components.

The means connecting the sleeve to the brake is typically a rod, wire or the like, which is attached directly to the sleeve at one end thereof and at the other end to the brake. The connection may pass through tubular struts comprising the frame of the vehicle, or externally of the frame. In some embodiments of the invention, the tubular crossbar forms a rigid connection between opposed frame members for the vehicle. In further embodiments of the invention, the crossbar may be disconnectable at at least one end relative to the remainder of the frame. This latter arrangement can permit the whole frame to be collapsible.

The brake typically comprises an over-centre mechanism connected to the brake such that the latter is movable between operative and inoperative positions in which the brake respectively engages with, or is disengaged from, at least one wheel of the vehicle. The brake typically engages with the rim of at least one wheel of the vehicle.

Several embodiments of handle according to the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an inner sleeve for use in a handle according to the invention in which the sleeve is open (la) or closed (lb); Figure 2 is a perspective view of an outer sleeve for use in a handle according to the invention in which the sleeve is open (2a) or closed (2b); Figure 3 is a perspective view of a handle according to the invention comprising inner and outer sleeves as in Figures 1 and 2, respectively; Figure 4 is a rear view of a child's buggy incorporating a braking device with a handle according to the invention; Figure 5 is a schematic detail side view of the braking device shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a rear view of a wheelchair incorporating a different form of braking device.

Figures 1 to 3 show an inner sleeve, generally designated 12, comprising a top and bottom elongate semi-tubular members 11 and 10 respectively, which are hingedly connected to one another along edge 13. The hinged connection may be a mechanical fixing; alternatively members 11 and 10 can be integrally formed with a hinge line, which is generally a line of reduced thickness along the length thereof, the hinging action resulting from the resilience of the material.

The inner sleeve is fixed about a separate tubular frame member 17 by means of engagement of complementary formations in the form of tongues 14 and grooves 15, facilitating a snap-fit snugly around the tubular frame member. Further fixing means can be provided, for example, in the form of strips of double sided tape 16 located between the inner surface of the sleeve and the tubular frame member 17.

The inner sleeve 12 has end portions 18 and 19 located at the ends thereof of which the external radius is greater than in a central portion 20. This central portion 20 provides a surface around which outer sleeve 30 may slide.

The central portion 20 has a longitudinal slot 21 forming a slideway in which a button 22 is free to move over a limited distance.

The outer sleeve 30 also comprises top and bottom elongate semi-tubular members 32 and 31 which are hingedly connected, in a manner similar to that just described for the inner sleeve. They also snap-fit to one another in a similar manner to that described above for the inner sleeve. The outer sleeve fits around the inner sleeve so as to permit sliding over the portion 20 of the inner sleeve. The outer sleeve is fixed in a longitudinal direction between portions 18 and 19 of the inner sleeve, whose external radius is equal to that of the outer sleeve.

A Z-shaped slot 34 is provided in the outer sleeve through the entire width of one of the members 31 or 32. This slot has two longitudinal portions 35 and 36 connected to one circumferential portion 37. The width of the slot is such that button 22 can be received in and project through the outer sleeve.

A brake cable 38 is connected to the outer sleeve by means of a cable receiver 39 which is in the form of a lug having an aperture 40 through which a cable may pass, but a bulbous member 41 provided at the free end of the cable is too big to pass through the aperture. In order to release the brake (which is normally on), the outer sleeve is twisted such that the button 22 rests at the bottom of portion 37 of slot 34. If the brake is to be "locked off" the button is slid longitudinally along portion 36 or 35 of slot 34 preventing the outer sleeve from entering to the "brake on" position.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown a child's buggy 101 of the fixed-rear-wheel type foldable from front to rear. Such a buggy has a frame comprising a cross-member 102 fixed to upright parallel struts 103, which are themselves attached to a rear crossbar 104 supporting rear wheels 105. When folded, the seat 106 and back 107 of the buggy are substantially parallel and the front wheels 109 are closely adjacent the rear wheels 105.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the braking device comprises a twist-action rotatable handle 111 fitting coaxially around a cross-member 102, the handle being attached to a brake rod or bar 112 through a connecting device which may comprise a set of parallel wires 113. As best illustrated in Figure 5, the brake rod 112 is movable by an over-centre mechanism 114 from a position in which it is engageable with the wheels 105 to a position in which the brake rod 112 is disengaged but when, for example, descending an incline, the over-centre mechanism 114 can be moved so that the pusher of the buggy can control intermittent braking thereof.

As an alternative to the arrangement illustrated, the connecting wires 113 may be arranged to pass through the tubular struts 103 comprising the frame of the buggy, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5.

Figure 6 illustrates a foldable wheelchair having a braking device that is not over-centre operated. The wheelchair has a twist-action rotatable handle 122 to which are connected wires 123 attached respectively to brake bars 124, one associated with each wheel 125. Each brake bar is attached to an upright 126 of the wheelchair frame 127 and is slidable along the upright into and out of engagement with its wheel 125.

The handles in both the above embodiments are preferably as described above with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

Claims

Claims:

1. A handle for a pushable vehicle; said handle comprising a sleeve shaped to fit over and around a crossbar of said vehicle, said sleeve being rotatable about the crossbar by means of a twist action; a stop member provided on the crossbar which is either fixed or can be constrained in a fixed position; means for connecting the sleeve to a brake arranged to act on at least one wheel of the vehicle; means for engaging the sleeve with the stop member such that the brake can be selectively engaged or disengaged with the wheel.

2. A handle according to claim 1, wherein the stop member is such that it can selectively prevent further rotation of the handle, such that the latter can be locked in a position where the brake is disengaged from the wheel.

3. A handle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sleeve comprises an inner sleeve member and an outer sleeve member surrounding the inner member.

4. A handle according to claim 3, wherein at least the outer sleeve member comprises two parts, the two parts having complementary engaging formations such that the two parts can be fitted to one another along abutting edges thereof, the other edges of the two parts being either secured to, or integral with, one another.

5. A handle according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the means connecting the sleeve to the brake -comprises a rod, wire or the like, which is attached directly to the sleeve at one end thereof and at the other end to the brake.

6. A handle according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the connecting means passes externally of the frame.

7. A handle according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the tubular crossbar forms a rigid connection between opposed frame members for the vehicle.

8. A handle according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the the brake comprises an over-centre mechanism connected to the brake such that the latter is movable between operative and inoperative positions in which the brake respectively engages with, or is disengaged from, at least one wheel of the vehicle.

9. A handle according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the the brake is such that it engages with the rim of at least one wheel of the vehicle.

10. A handle for a pushable vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.