GB2263257A - Two wheeled child carrier. - Google Patents

Abstract

A frame 1 has pivotally connected first and second portions 2 and 3, of inverted-U shape, restrained by tie elements 10. The lower ends of the first portion 2 carry ground wheels 12, 13 and a pulling handle 15 is pivotally secured to the cross piece of portion 2. The second frame portion 3 carries a flexible bucket-type seat 16, and is bridged by a flexible foot rest 18. The lower ends of the second portion are provided with retractable support legs 20. The carrier is foldable by pivoting members 2 & 3 together, and the handle 15 is pivotable into a folded position. <IMAGE>

Description

INFANT CONVEYANCE TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a conveyance for infants.

BACKGROUND Young children are not usually capable of walking more than a short distance in a single stretch, and for longer journeys they either have to travel in a push chair of the like or be carried. Present day push chairs usually have four relatively small wheels or sets of wheels and are thus generally impossible to push over rough or uneven ground. Therefore, at the moment, for parents who wish to go on a country walk for example, the only alternative is to carry the child in their arms or in a back pack. In both cases the adult has to bear the whole weight of the child, which is extremely tiring.

An aim of the present invention may be viewed as being to provide a form of conveyance which is easier to transport over rough or uneven ground than a push chair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention proposes an infant conveyance having a frame which can be folded from its normal infant-carrying configuration to a stowed configuration, the frame being provided with a single pair of ground wheels and a pulling handle, and supporting a seat for the infant.

By providing only two wheels and by arranging the conveyance to be pulled rather than pushed, the ease of movement over uneven ground is considerably improved.

By providing wheels which are considerably larger in size and tread width than those of a push chair the ease of movement over rough ground, or soft ground such as dry sand, can be further improved.

The frame preferably comprises two portions which are pivotally coupled together, a first part being provided with the ground wheels and the pulling handle and the second part being provided with the seat.

The frame is preferably provided with legs upon which the conveyance can stand together with the ground wheels when it is not being pulled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is exemplified in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of an infant conveyance of the invention, and Figure 2 is a general perspective view of the conveyance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The conveyance comprises a frame 1 having first and second portions 2 and 3, both being generally of inverted-U shape. The limbs 4 of the first portion 2 are each pivotally connected at 6, part-way along their length, with a respective limb 8 of the second portion 3, such that the two frame portions can be angularly moved about a common pivot axis. The extent by which the upper sections of the two frame portions 2, 3 can be moved apart is limited by a pair of tie elements 10 which extend between the pivotally coupled legs 4 and 8. These tie elements may be of any convenient form, e.g. chains, cords or pairs of pivotally connected links.

The free lower ends of the limbs 4 each carry a respective ground wheel 12, 13 which is of relatively large diameter and has a relatively wide tread width.

The cross piece 14 at the upper end of the first frame portion 2 is pivotally secured to a pulling handle 15.

The second frame portion carries a flexible bucket-type infant seat 16, which may have a carrying pouch 17 secured to its back. The limbs 8 and 9 are bridged, below the aligned pivots 6, by a flexible foot rest 18.

In addition, the lower ends of these limbs are secured to respective legs 20 which are arranged such that they can be moved, by pivoting, telescoping, sliding or in other convenient manner, from a downwardly extending position as shown to an upwardly retracted position.

With an infant in the seat 16 the conveyance is easily pulled over rough terrain or soft ground with the legs 20 retracted. When the device is not being pulled the legs can be extended so that the conveyance stands stably on the wheels 12, 13 sand the legs 20. When the conveyance is not in use the two frame portions 2 and 3 can be pivoted together until they lie substantially in a common plane. The handle 15 can also be folded about its pivotal attachment to lie against the frame portions, so that the overall volume of the device is reduced for carrying or stowage in a car boot for example.

Claims (13)

1. An infant conveyance having a frame which can be folded from its normal infant-carrying configuration to a stowed configuration, the frame being provided with a single pair of ground wheels and a pulling handle, and supporting a seat for the infant.

2. A conveyance according to Claim 1, in which the frame comprises two portions which are pivotally coupled together, a first of said portions being provided with the ground wheels and the pulling handle, and the second of said portions being provided with the seat.

3. A conveyance according to Claim 2, in which said portions are pivotally coupled together.

4. A conveyance according to Claim 3, in which the two portions of the frame are coupled by tie elements arranged to maintain the angular relationship between said portions when the conveyance is in its infant-carrying configuration.

5. A conveyance according to Claim 2, 3 or 4, in which said first portion includes an inverted-U shaped part having a pair of side limbs with the ground wheels mounted at their lower ends and joined at their upper ends by a cross piece to which the handle is secured.

6. A conveyance according to Claim 5, in which the handle is pivotally secured to the cross piece.

7. A conveyance according to any of Claims 2 to 6, in which said second portion includes an inverted-U shaped part having a pair of side limbs joined at their upper ends by a cross piece which, together, support the seat.

8. A conveyance according to Claim 7 as appended to Claim 5 or 6, in which the side limbs of the second portion are pivotally coupled part-way along the side limbs of the first portion.

9. A conveyance according to Claim 7 or 8, in which the side limbs of the second portion are bridged by a foot rest.

10. A conveyance according to any preceding Claim, in which the frame is provided with legs upon which the conveyance can stand together with the ground wheels when it is not being pulled.

11. A conveyance according to Claim 10 as appended to Claim 7 or 8, in which the legs are formed by lower end portions of the side limbs of said second portion.

12. A conveyance according to Claim 10 or 11, in which the legs can be moved from a downwardly projecting position to a retracted portion.

13. An infant conveyance substantially as described with reference to the drawings.