GB2324510A - Convertible buggy - Google Patents

Abstract

A buggy has a carrier 4 pivotally moved between prone and seated positions, characterised by the carrier moving forwardly of the buggy when moved to the prone position. The carrier may be mounted on a U-shaped yoke (10 figs 6 and 7) hung from a chassis 1 by two hanger members (11 fig 6), one on either side of the buggy, which hanger members may be locked in at least two pivotal positions by means of spring loaded pins 12 engaging with apertures (14 fig 8). A head end of the carrier in the prone position may be convertible to a seat in the seated position. The buggy may be foldable, having a U-shaped handle 2 whose free ends 32 are secured to first slider blocks 5 slidable along front legs 33 of the chassis, which front legs may be secured to second slider blocks 31 slidable along the arms of the handle, the first and second slider blocks being latched together (30 fig 15) in the erected condition of the buggy and slid away from on another in the folded condition (fig 14). A powered filter unit 9 may be provided to supply filtered air to the occupant of the buggy. A hood 6, 7 may be provided.

Description

Buggies For Infants This invention relates to buggies for infants.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a buggy for use in transporting an infant prone or seated, in which a carrier unit for the infant is hung on a wheeled chassis for pivotal movement selectively between a cot-position appropriate to the prone infant, and an inclined seat-position appropriate to the seated infant, wherein the axis of the pivotal movement is offset from the carrier unit such that the carrier unit moves forwardly of the buggy when pivoting from the seatposition to the cot-position.

The carrier unit may be mounted on a substantially Ushape yoke that is hung within the chassis offset from said axis for pivotal movement between the seat- and cotpositions. In this case the yoke may be locked to the chassis with a substantially level attitude in the cotposition and with a significantly inclined attitude in the seat-position. Where a substantially U-shape handle of the buggy extends from the chassis, the yoke may be substantially co-planar with the handle when locked in the seat-position.

The carrier unit may be hung from the chassis via two hanger members that are pivoted to the chassis one either side of the buggy, and means may then be provided for locking the hanger members in selectively either of two pivotal orientations with respect to the chassis, for the seat- and cot-positions respectively. The said means may comprise for each hanger member, a spring-loaded pin that latches with respective apertures of the hanger member for locking the carrier unit in the seat- and cotpositions.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a buggy which has collapsed and erect conditions and which includes a wheeled chassis with a U-shape handle, wherein the two arms of the handle are secured respectively to a pair of first slider-blocks that are slidable on two front legs respectively of the chassis, and the front legs are secured respectively to two second slider-blocks that are slidable on the arms of the handle respectively, such that the first slider-block on each leg slides away from the second slider-block secured to that leg during collapse of the buggy, and wherein the first and second slider-blocks of each leg slide towards one another during erection from the collapsed condition for latching together in abutment with one another in the erect condition of the buggy.

The first and second slider-blocks of each leg may latch together automatically on entering into abutment with one another. Release of the latching between the first and second slider-blocks of each leg, on the other hand, may be conditional upon manual deflection of a respective spring-biased catch.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a buggy for use in transporting an infant prone or seated, in which a carrier unit for the infant is hung on a wheeled chassis for pivotal movement selectively between a cot-position appropriate to the prone infant, and an inclined seat-position appropriate to the seated infant, wherein the head end of the carrier unit in the cot-position is convertible by manipulation to provide a seat for the infant in the seat-position.

The head end of the carrier unit may include a semi-rigid portion attached to a base of the carrier unit such that it is manipulatable between the condition in which it is upstanding from the base for the cot position and folded back under the base for the seat-position. A panel may be hinged to the base at the head end so as to be foldable up from the base to form a seat platform when the semi-rigid portion is folded back under the base.

The panel may be attached to sides of the carrier unit by fabric gussets.

The buggy according to this or other aspect of the present invention may incorporate facilities for affording an infant protection against ambient-air pollution utilising techniques disclosed in GB-A-2301879.

More particularly, the buggy of the present invention may involve a compartment for enclosing the infant, the compartment being defined between a carrier unit in which the infant is to sit or lie, and a canopy which is transparent throughout at least a substantial part thereof and which is for extension over the infant within the carrier unit to close-up the compartment except to the extent of leaving one or more openings to the ambient atmosphere. The buggy may then include means carried with the carrier unit for blowing filtered ambient-air into the compartment at a location spaced from said one or more openings to create positive pressure in the compartment relative to the ambient air-pressure with the filtered air flowing lengthwise of the infant.

In the latter regard, the canopy may comprise flexible transparent sheeting supported on arched stays that are pivotable for selective extension of the canopy over the carrier unit. One or more elements of mesh may be inset into the canopy for venting air from the compartment and avoiding build up of heat within the compartment.

A buggy for an infant, in accordance with the present invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 show the buggy of the invention in side elevation and perspective view from the front, when used in a first of two modes; Figures 3 to 5 show the buggy in side elevation and in perspective view from the front and from the back, when used in the second mode; Figures 6 and 7 are perspective views of the tubularmetal framework of the buggy in the first and second modes respectively; Figure 8 is a part sectional view illustrative of a mechanism by which the buggy is locked in one or other of its first and second modes; Figures 9 is a partially exploded perspective view of the buggy shown in the first mode, with its canopy and other parts removed for clarity; Figure 10 is a plan view of a liner used in the buggy; Figures 11 to 13 show the buggy during successive stages in changing it from use in the first to second modes; Figure 14 shows the framework of the buggy when in the collapsed condition; Figures 15 and 16 are views of part of one side of the buggy framework during locked and released states applicable respectively to the erect and collapsed conditions of the buggy; and Figures 17 and 18 are views corresponding to Figures 15 and 16 respectively, showing an alternative form of safety catch to that of Figures 15 and 16.

The infant-buggy to be described is capable of use in either of two modes, one (called the "cot-position") in which the child is prone as in a cot, and the other (called the "seat-position") in which the child is seated. The buggy is readily convertible from one mode to the other, and in this respect can be readily utilised for an infant from birth through to the first four or so years of its life.

Referring to Figures 1 to 5, the buggy has a tubularmetal chassis 1 that is fitted with a tubular-metal handle 2 of U-shape, for pushing and manoeuvring the buggy on its four wheels 3. An elongate carrier unit 4, which is for supporting the infant lying down when the buggy is in the cot-position mode (Figures 1 and 2) or sitting when the buggy is in the seat-position mode (Figures 3 to 5), is hung within the chassis 1 between two slider-blocks 5 on opposite sides of the chassis 1.

The buggy includes a semi-rigid fabric-covered hood 6 which is used only in the cot-position mode (Figures 1 and 2), and a transparent plastics-sheeting canopy 7 that in conjunction with the carrier unit 4 defines a compartment 8 to enclose the infant. A powered filterunit 9 mounted at one end of the unit 4 blows filtered air into the compartment 8 to ensure that the compartment 8 is kept substantially free of polluted air. The unit 9 includes (not shown) a fan that is powered from a rechargeable or standard battery to draw ambient-air through a filter and blow it into the compartment 8. The filter, which includes a dust-filtrant and polyurethane foam impregnated with carbon spheres or carbonimpregnated cloth, is effective to remove pollutants (particulates, together with carbon-, nitrogen- and sulphur-dioxide, and hydrocarbons) to a substantial extent from the ambient-air so that the filtered air blown into the compartment 8 defined within the canopy 7, is of significantly-enhanced breathability. The filter may also be effective to protect against pollen and other allergens.

The canopy 7, the powered filter-unit 9 and the carrier unit 4 are all mounted within the chassis 1 on a tubular yoke 10 of U-shape shown in Figures 6 and 7. The yoke 10 is shown in Figures 6 and 7 in the orientations with respect to the chassis 1 appropriate, respectively, to the cot-position and seat-position modes of use of the buggy. More particularly, referring to Figures 6 and 7, the yoke 10 is carried by hangers 11 that are pivoted to the slider-blocks 5 on either side of the chassis 1. The yoke 10 is locked to the chassis 1 with either a slightly upward inclination away from the handle 2 (Figures 6) appropriate to the cot-position mode, or, when having been swung through sixty degrees, with a larger, reversed inclination (Figure 7) appropriate to the seat-position mode. The locking is effected by a spring-loaded knob 12 on each slider-block 5, the knob 12, as illustrated in Figure 8, having a pin 13 that latches into either of two detent slots 14 of the hanger 11 appropriate to the cotand seat-position modes respectively (a third detent slot 14' is indicated in broken line in Figure 8, for use where an additional, reclining seat-position mode is to be provided). The lock is released to enable the mode to be changed simply by pulling both knobs 12 outwardly, and letting go of them while swinging the yoke 10 through the required angle.

The pivot axis 15 (Figures 6 and 7) of the hangers 11 with the slider-blocks 5 and therefore with the chassis 1, is offset from the yoke 10 so that as the yoke 10 is swung from the seat-position mode into the cot-position mode, it moves forwardly of the chassis 1. This allows a comfortable clearance to be provided between the unit 9 at the rear of the carrier 4 for the person pushing the buggy while in the cot-position mode, yet enables the yoke 10 to be substantially co-planar with the handle 2 when the buggy is in the seat-position mode.

As illustrated in Figure 9 (from which the canopy 7 and the powered filter unit 9 are omitted for clarity), the carrier unit 4 is hung from the arms of the yoke 10 and has a generally wedge-shaped trough configuration. The base 16 of the unit 4 is a substantially rigid plastics panel covered by fabric, whereas the sides 17 are semirigid fabric-covered panels and the deepest end or bow 18 is of a semi-rigid quilted fabric. The bow 18 is connected to the sides 17 by fabric gussets 19 which overlie the sides 17 externally, each gusset 19 being attached to the respective side 17 by a fabric hinge 20 and being held up and flat by a press-button fastener 21 engaged with a stud 22 (see Figure 11) near the upper edge of the respective side 17.

A washable liner 23 having a shape when flat as illustrated in Figure 10, fits into the carrier unit 4 with close conformity to the wedge-like trough configuration. The liner 23 is reversible to enable a choice of colour and/or pattern and provides an underlay beneath the infant when lying prone on the base 16 with his/her head towards the bow 18. In the latter regard, the slight upward inclination to which the yoke 10 is locked for the cot-position mode, ensures that the base 16 is horizontal in this mode.

When there is to be change of use of the buggy from the cot-position mode to the seat-position mode, the lining 23 is removed in preparation for manipulation of the unit 4 for the new mode. Successive steps of manipulation required in this latter respect are illustrated in Figures 11 and 12 (as with Figure 9, the canopy 7 and the powered filter unit 9 are omitted for clarity), and will now be described.

Referring to Figure 11, the press-button fasteners 21 are first unfastened from the engaged studs 22 to allow the bow 18 to be pulled downwards. This downward pulling of the bow 18 is continued, folding the gussets 19 about the hinge 20. Finally, with the bow 18 pulled backwardly fully under the base 16 and the gussets 19 turned inside out and flat again on the sides 17 as illustrated in Figure 12, the fasteners 21 are engaged to hold them in place, with studs 24 on the sides 17. The bow 18 now forms a rear pocket for the buggy in the seat-position mode, as most clearly shown in Figure 5.

A substantially-rigid fabric-covered panel 25 which lays flat on the base 17 within the unit 4 during the cotposition mode (see Figure 10), is now folded up from within the unit 4 to form a seat platform for the infant.

The panel 25 is attached by fabric gussets 26 to the sides 17 within the unit 4; the use of the fabric gussets 26 to give the seat-panel 25 a flexible, hanging support within the yoke 10, enhances comfort for the sitting infant.

The unit 4 is now ready to be swung into the orientation appropriate to the seat-position mode. The knobs 12 are pulled out to release the lock on the yoke 10 so as to allow the unit 4 to move, and are then let go again to re-establish the lock once the required orientation, as illustrated in Figure 13, has been achieved. The liner 23 is now replaced in the unit 4, with a flap 27 overhanging the edge of the panel 25 behind the infant's knees, for comfort.

Although not shown in Figures 9, 11 and 12, the powered filter-unit 9 is clamped to the yoke 10 at the bend 28 of the U-shape yoke 10, and no disturbance of this is required during the mode change. Similarly, the canopy 7 remains attached throughout the change.

The buggy can be collapsed from its erect condition, for carrying or stowage; collapse may be carried out directly from the seat-position mode, or from the cot-position mode but in the latter case it is necessary first to operate the knobs 12 to release the unit 4 and swing it into the orientation appropriate to the seat-position mode (it is not necessary to manipulate the carrier unit 4 otherwise). In this regard, and referring to Figures 6 and 7 especially, the chassis 1 is retained in its erect condition by sprung locking latches 30 on either side of the buggy, and it is simply necessary to release these to initiate collapse. The latches 30 are operative to hold slider blocks 31 in abutment with the blocks 5, and their release allows the blocks 5 and 31 to slide apart for collapse of the buggy; the collapsed condition is illustrated by Figure 14, and details of the blocks 5 and 31 latched together and slid apart are illustrated in Figures 15 and 16 respectively.

Referring to Figures 6, 7 and 14 to 16, the blocks 5 are anchored to the ends of the two arms 32 of the U-shape handle 2 and slide on the tubular front legs 33 of the chassis 1. The blocks 31, on the other hand, are anchored to the ends of the legs 33 and slide on the arms 32, so that with the latches 30 released, downward pressure on the handle 2 causes the blocks 5 and 31 to slide apart as illustrated in Figure 16. However, before either latch 30 can be released a safety catch 34 individual to it must be deflected. The catch 34, in this case of pivoted U-shape wire, is spring biased into a position (as illustrated in Figure 15) in which it blocks release of the latch 30, and it is only when it has been deflected out of this position against this bias (as illustrated in Figure 16) that the latch 30 is freed.

Different forms of safety catch may be used on the two sides of the buggy, and in this respect Figures 17 and 18 show a form that may be used as an alternative to the catch 34 of Figures 15 and 16 on one side. Referring to Figures 17 and 18, which show the blocks 5 and 31 when latched together and when slid apart, respectively, the spring-biased catch 35 in this case, has a projection 36 that in its normal undeflected position overlies a tongue 37 included with the latch 30. The projection 36 accordingly blocks release of the latch 30 until the projection 36 is rotated away by deflection of the catch 35 using thumb or finger pressure on an arm 38 of the catch 35.

Once the latches 30 on both sides of the buggy have been released, downward pressure on the handle 2 causes the blocks 5 and 31 to slide apart to bring about the complete collapse illustrated in Figure 14. The buggy may then be re-erected by pulling the handle 2 to reverse the operation for collapse to restore the condition in which the blocks 5 and 31 abut one another. The latches 30 automatically re-engage, deflecting the catches 34 and 35 to allow this in the re-engaging movement, to hold the block 5 and 31 together.

The canopy 7 of the buggy, as shown in Figures 1 to 5, is made up of two flexible gores 39 and 40 and an apron portion 41, all of clear polyvinyl chloride sheets that are sewn and sealed together on flexible stays 42 and 43.

The stays 42 and 43 are arched with the two ends of each pivoted to the blocks 5 so as to enable the stays 42 and 43 to be opened out from one another to stretch the sheeting of the gores 39 and 40 taut and close-up the compartment 8. In this respect, the gore 39 has an elasticated edge (not shown) that stretches round a groove (not shown) in the casing of the unit 9 and onto the sides 17 of the unit 4 to establish a good seal with the units 9 and 4.

In the seat-position mode as illustrated by Figures 3 to 5, the apron portion 41 overlaps the sides 17 of the unit 4, down to the seat panel 25. It is pulled down onto the sides 17 by press-button fasteners 44 (Figure 5) engaged with the studs 22 so as to afford a degree of airtightness with the sides 17, but between them hangs on the arched stay 43, open and away from the seated infant's legs. The open bottom to the apron portion 41, ensures that the compartment 8 is adequately vented, and the curved vaulting of the canopy 7 that results from use of the arched stays 42 and 43, reduces significantly the possibility of build up of zones of stagnant air.

Nonetheless, the ventilation is supplemented by the provision of mesh-inserts 45 in the head of the gore 39 and the corners of the gore 40. The mesh prevents entry of insects, and hoods 46 (of the same transparent plastics material as the gores 39 and 40) to the inserts 45 prevent entry of rain.

The possibility of entry of polluted air is obviated by operating the unit 9 to maintain a positive pressure within the compartment 8 with respect to the ambient airpressure. The unit 9 directs the filtered air downwardly into the compartment 8, and the venting of waste air through the open bottom of the apron 38 ensures a good air-flow downwardly of the infant's face and body. The added, balanced ventilation through the mesh-inserts 45 helps further to ensure that there is no build up of carbon dioxide, or of heat, within the compartment 8.

The unit 9 incorporates external indicators 47 for showing respectively the state of charge of the battery and air flow into the compartment 8 so as to enable operation of the unit 9 to be readily monitored.

Provision may also be made for an audio alarm that warns when the state of charge of the battery is low.

The unit 9 is operated in the same manner to keep a positive pressure within the compartment 8 when the buggy is used in the cot-position mode (Figures 1 and 2). In this case the air flow from the unit 9 is in the direction from the infant's feet towards his/her head, but the same general levels of ventilation are achieved.

The hood 6 is used in this mode only, to extend from beneath the apron 41 and provide cover for the infant's head. It is held down over the bow 18 by means of a fabric strap 48, and is pivoted between the blocks 5 so that it may be swung back to facilitate attention to the infant. The hood 6 may be removed simply by squeezing it inwardly to release its pivots from the blocks 5.

Claims (17)

Claims:

1. A buggy for use in transporting an infant prone or seated, in which a carrier unit for the infant is hung on a wheeled chassis for pivotal movement selectively between a cot-position appropriate to the prone infant, and an inclined seat-position appropriate to the seated infant, wherein the axis of the pivotal movement is offset from the carrier unit such that the carrier unit moves forwardly of the buggy when pivoting from the seatposition to the cot-position.

2. A buggy according to Claim 1 wherein the carrier unit is mounted on a substantially U-shape yoke that is hung within the chassis offset from said axis for pivotal movement between the seat- and cot-positions.

3. A buggy according to Claim 2 wherein the yoke is locked to the chassis with a substantially level attitude in the cot-position and with a significantly inclined attitude in the seat-position.

4. A buggy according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein a substantially U-shape handle of the buggy extends from the chassis and the yoke is substantially co-planar with the handle when locked in the seat-position.

5. A buggy according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the carrier unit is hung from the chassis via two hanger members that are pivoted to the chassis one either side of the buggy, and means is provided for locking the hanger members in selectively either of two pivotal orientations with respect to the chassis, for the seatand cot-positions respectively.

6. A buggy according to Claim 5 wherein said means comprises for each hanger member, a spring-loaded pin that latches with respective apertures of the hanger member for locking the carrier unit in the seat- and cotpositions.

7. A buggy according to Claims 6 wherein the hanger member has a third slot for locking the carrier unit in an additional, reclining seat-position.

8. A buggy which has collapsed and erect conditions and which includes a wheeled chassis with a U-shape handle, wherein the two arms of the handle are secured respectively to a pair of first slider-blocks that are slidable on two front legs respectively of the chassis, and the front legs are secured respectively to two second slider-blocks that are slidable on the arms of the handle respectively, such that the first slider-block on each leg slides away from the second slider-block secured to that leg during collapse of the buggy, and wherein the first and second slider-blocks of each leg slide towards one another during erection from the collapsed condition for latching together in abutment with one another in the erect condition of the buggy.

9. A buggy according to Claim 8 wherein the first and second slider-blocks of each leg latch together automatically on entering into abutment with one another.

10. A buggy according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 wherein release of the latching between the first and second slider-blocks of each leg is conditional upon deflection of a respective spring-biased catch.

11. A buggy according to Claim 10 wherein the form of catch for the first and second slider-blocks of one leg differs from the form of catch for the first and second slider-blocks of the other leg.

12. A buggy according to any one of Claims 1 to 11 wherein the head end of the carrier unit in the cotposition is convertible by manipulation to provide a seat for the infant in the seat-position.

13. A buggy for use in transporting an infant prone or seated, in which a carrier unit for the infant is hung on a wheeled chassis for pivotal movement selectively between a cot-position appropriate to the prone infant, and an inclined seat-position appropriate to the seated infant, wherein the head end of the carrier unit in the cot-position is convertible by manipulation to provide a seat for the infant in the seat-position.

14. A buggy according to Claim 12 or Claim 13 wherein the head end of the carrier unit includes a semi-rigid portion attached to a base of the carrier unit such that it is manipulatable between the condition in which it is upstanding from the base for the cot position and folded back under the base for the seat-position.

15. A buggy according to Claim 14 wherein a panel which is hinged to the base at the head end is foldable up from the base to form a seat platform when the semi-rigid portion is folded back under the base.

16. A buggy according to Claim 15 wherein the panel is attached to sides of the carrier unit by fabric gussets.

17. A buggy substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.