GB2248269A

GB2248269A - Apparatus for supporting a member in a plurality of angular positions

Info

Publication number: GB2248269A
Application number: GB9020347A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Church
Original assignee: Hestair Maclaren Ltd; Maclaren Ltd
Current assignee: Hestair Maclaren Ltd; Maclaren Ltd
Priority date: 1990-09-18
Filing date: 1990-09-18
Publication date: 1992-04-01
Anticipated expiration: 2010-09-18
Also published as: GB2248269B; GB9020347D0

Abstract

A frame of a baby carriage for removably supporting child support such as a seat frame for a child in a plurality of angular positions, comprising a manually operable rotatable mechanism 4 which is adapted to support the seat frame whereby that seat frame is fixedly mountable in and releasable from the carriage frame. The mechanism 4 also providing adjustment of the seat frame to a desired fixed angular position in relation to the carriage frame 1. The mechanism 4 has a first depressive actuator 27 which allows position adjustment of the frames and a second depressible actuator 33 operable in conjunction with the first actuator 27 to allow removal of the seat frame from the carriage frame for replacement, eg by a cot frame. <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A MEMBER IN A PLURALITY OF ANGULAR POSITIONS The invention relates to apparatus for removably supporting a member in a plurality of angular positions, particularly in relation to the support, and in order to removably mount the member in the support.

Such supports are often the frames of push-chairs, buggies or strollers for a child.

Such frames are usually foldable for storage and/or ease of transport. They often too fold in a "fore and aft" direction, that is by bringing the front and rear wheels closely together in the folded position, whereby a carrying tray or receptacle which in use is below the seat, can be retained in the buggy in both the erected and folded condition. It is sometimes desirable to have the seat in which the child sits, facing the pusher of the buggy and sometimes to face away from him (or her). It is also sometimes desirable to replace the seat with another kind, such as a cot if an infant is to be transported.

It is therefore an object of the invention to seek to provide a frame which will achieve these ends.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for removably supporting a member in relation to a support and in a plurality of angular positions in relation to the support, comprising a mounting device for cooperation with a mounting device of the member, and manually operable rotatable means for actuating the device for movement to a first position for angular adjustment of the member in relation to the apparatus and to a second position for removal of the member from the apparatus, the rotatable means including a first depressible actuator for the first position and a second depressible actuator operable in conjunction with the first actuator for the second position.

The support may be a wheeled frame of a push-chair or stroller.

The member may comprise a seat means such as a child's seat.

Alternatively the member may comprise a cot or pram.

Apparatus embodying the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a frame of a baby carriage incorporating a mechanism according to the invention and with a seat frame in one position; Fig. 2 is a side view of the baby carriage according to Fig. 1, with the seat frame in a different angular position; Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line III-III of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line X-Y of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings which show a right hand part of the frame (the opposite hand always corresponds so only one is shown for clarity) there is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a frame 1 (in the case of a buggy 9) for removably supporting child support means such as a seat frame 3 for a child in a plurality of angular positions, comprising a manually operable lateral mechanism 4 which is adapted to support the seat frame 3 whereby that seat frame 3 is fixidly mountable in and releasable from the frame 1, the mechanism 4 also providing adjustment of the seat frame 3 to a desired fixed angular position in relation to the frame 1.

The frame 1 comprises two spaced side frame parts 5 and 6 of metal mounted on wheels, and being foldable fore and aft by the front or leading elongate members comprising metal, usually metal tube, being "breakable" at an elbow pivot, the fore and aft parts of each side frame part being connected by a "breakable" strut 7 to allow collapsing of the frame 1 when broken and when a secondary catch at the elbow pivot is also released.

To achieve this, the fore tube member of each side frame part comprises two elongate members which in the erect position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are more or less aligned, the lower (in use when erected) elongate member being secured in a housing 8 which provides part of the mechanism 4.

The housing 8 is a plastic moulding which comprises the mechanism 4 which has a manually operable rotatable knob 9 receivable in a recess 10 in the housing 8 on the outside of the frame (as considered in use). The housing 8 includes a bore 11 in which a slidable plastic plug 12 is reciprocable, being mounted on a rod 13 connected to the knob 9 and having two projecting pins 14 spaced apart on a diameter, the rod 13 passing therebetween. The mechanism 4 also includes a rotatable device or wedge 15 secured to the rod 13 by a nut head 16 in a recess 17. The wedge 15 has two through bores 18, 19 aligned with the pins 14 and carries on one face a mounting means in the form of a substantially dove-tail or wedge shaped projection 20 which is complementary in shape to a blind dove-tail shaped recess in a mounting block 21 on a side frame 22 of the seat frame 3.

The opposite face or side of the wedge 15 to the projection 20 has a circumferential array of teeth 23 which face and are adapted to engage with a fixed circular array of teeth 24 on a part 25 of the housing 8 on the inside of the frame 1 in use.

The rotatable knob 9 has a slot 26 in which is mounted a first depressible actuator in the form of a thumb or finger operable button 27, there being a biassing means in the form of a leaf spring 28 mounted on the inside of the knob 9 and engaged by the button 27 and acting normally to bias the button 9 to the position shown in which an extension 29 of the button 9 lies adjacent a boundary surface of the slot 26. Internally of the knob 9 is mounted a lock plate 30 which has an internal camming surface 31 and a slot 32 in which is seated a second depressible actuator in the form of a second thumb or finger button 33 mounted under pressure of a biassing means in the form of a compression spring 34.

Mounted on a flange 35 of the knob 9 internally of the housing 8 is an indicating means 36 for indicating the position of the seat frame 3.

In use, if it is desired to move the seat frame 3 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2, the button 27 is depressed against the action of the leaf spring 28 so that the extension 29 is in turn depressed below the boundary of the slot 26. If the knob 9 is simultaneously turned clockwise, as viewed, a cam follower on the knob 9 moves to a lower part of the cam on the lock plate 30, so a spring 37 as the rod 13 moves the wedge 15 and ratchet teeth 23 to the right as viewed (Fig. 4) over the pins 14 to disengage the teeth 23 from the teeth 24 so that the seat frame 3 can be tilted to another desired position such as that shown in Fig. 2. Turning the knob 9 moves the indicating means 36 to be visible through the slot 26 to indicate the tilting mode. Turning back the knob 9 in the opposite (anti-clockwise) sense, the teeth 23, 24 are brought back together again to engage under the pressure of the spring 37, and the button 27 pops out of the slot 26 under pressure of the leaf spring 28.

If on the other hand the seat frame 3 is desired to be removed from the frame, possibly to be replaced by another member such as a cot, the knob 9 is depressed as before and the knob is then turned. If the knob 9 is turned further in the clockwise sense, the cam 31 and follower move to their lowest part so that the spring 37 can operate to retract the pins 14 internally of the wedge 15 and from corresponding holes in a complementary wedge shape on the seat frame, which can then simply be lifted from the wedge. In this position, a second part 36 of the indicating means has been moved to be visible through the slot 26 to indicate the removal mode.

The operator provides a positive two part turning operation which can readily be effected by one hand of a user.

The seat frame 3 can be replaced and locked in position, or replaced by a similar item such as a cot with a wedge shape seating, by a reverse operation.

A secondary pivotable lock 38 for holding the frame 1 erect in the Figs. 1 and 2 position is shown in Fig. 5, the secondary lock 38 comprising a pivotable member 39 which locks under an abutment 40 under pressure of a spring 41.

Using the invention it is possible to provide a universal baby or child support system which is flexible yet efficient in operation.

It will be understood that there is a mechanisn 4 on each side of the frame.

Claims

CLAM

1. Apparatus for removably supporting a member in relation to a support and in a plurality of angular positions in relation to the support, comprising a mounting device for cooperation with a mounting device member, and manually operable rotatable means for actuating the device for movement to a first position for angular adjustment of the member in relation to the apparatus and to a second position for removal of the member from the apparatus, the rotatable means including a first depressible actuator for the first position and a second depressible actuator operable in conjunction with the first actuator for the second position.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the support is a wheeled frame of a push-chair or stroller.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the member camprises a child's seat.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the member comprises a cot.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the mounting device comprises a dove-tail shaped wedge.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the mounting device of the member comprises a dove-tsil spigot positioned on a side frame of the member.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 7, wherein the rotatable means comprises a knob seated in a housing of the rotatable means, which housing has cam means over which the knob or part thereof moves a rotation following actuation of the first depressible actuator.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the first depressible actuator comprises a thumb or finger operable button mounted on a member interiorly of the knob and projectible through a slot whereby rotation may be prevented.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein the second actuating member comprises a second thumb or finger button mounted under pressure by a compression spring.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the second thumb or finger button is seated in a slot of a lock plate which has an internal calming surface.

11. Apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the knob has indicating means for indicating the position of the member.

12. Apparatus for removably supporting a member in relation to a support, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.