GB2373484A

GB2373484A - Hand propelled load carrying vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2373484A
Application number: GB0106948A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Linda Sear; Cindy Croot
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-03-20
Filing date: 2001-03-20
Publication date: 2002-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 2021-03-20
Also published as: GB2373484B; GB0106948D0

Abstract

A hand propelled load carrying vehicle, for example, a child's push chair 2, comprises handle means 9; frame means 6 for load carrying; first and second sets of wheels 14, 16, spaced apart over the width of the frame, wherein one of the first and second wheel means is movable from a vehicle supporting position to a retracted position; and means 30, 32 for securing a side of the frame adjacent said wheel means to a frame means of a second similar vehicle 4. By securing the two vehicles together they may then be propelled along together as a single vehicle, for example as a double push chair. The securing means may be inter-engaging rails with a generally rectangular cross-section (figure 1) or tubular cross-section (figure 4). The wheels may be pivoted by means of a ball joint (figure 5), and the connection between the two vehicles may be strengthened by means of vertical frame members also being secured together (figure 3).

Description

HAND PROPELLED LOAD CARRYING VEHICLES The present invention relates to hand propelled load carrying vehicles, especially vehicles for carrying small children or babies, for example pushchairs, buggies or strollers.

A problem for parents with young families is that a pushchair purchased for a first child cannot be used after the arrival of a second child, when a double pushchair is required for carrying both children. When the first child can walk, it is possible to revert to the first pushchair, and the double pushchair becomes redundant. This involves the parents in a great deal of expense.

Summary of the Invention It is an object of the invention to reduce such expense.

The present invention provides in a first aspect, a hand propelled load carrying vehicle, comprising: handle means for propelling the vehicle ; frame means providing a load carrying region; first and second wheel means, spaced apart in the direction of the width of the frame, for supporting the vehicle, wherein one of the first and second wheel means is movable from a vehicle supporting position to a retracted position; and means for securing a side of the frame means adjacent said one wheel means to a frame means of a second hand propelled load carrying vehicle having first and second wheel means, spaced apart in the direction of the width of the frame, for supporting the vehicle, whereby the two vehicles can be propelled as a single vehicle.

The present invention provides in a second aspect, first and second hand propelled load carrying vehicles, each vehicle comprising: handle means for propelling the vehicle; frame means for providing a load carrying region; first and second wheel means, spaced apart in the direction of the width of the frame, for supporting the vehicle; wherein a first vehicle has one of the first and second wheel means being movable from a vehicle supporting position to a retracted position; and including means for securing a side of the

frame means of the first vehicle adjacent said one wheel means to an adjacent side of the frame means of the second vehicle.

In accordance with the invention, when the two vehicles are to be secured together, said one wheel means is moved to its retracted position so as not to interfere with the securing, since the wheel means frequently project from the side of the frame means.

Whilst it would be possible to arrange for said one wheel means to be completely removable from the frame means, it is preferred for utility to retain the one wheel means on the frame and have it movable to a retracted position in which it does not interfere with the securing of the two vehicles.

The wheel means may comprise sets of wheels, for example as in common in pushchairs, two sets of double wheels positioned fore and aft, and mounted on projecting ends of frame members The movable set of wheels may be coupled to a pivot formed in the respective frame member. The pivot is normally locked in position, but may be unlocked for movement between the retracted and vehicle supporting position. A screw clamp lock may be provided. Alternatively, a ball and socket joint is provided, which holds the wheels normally in the vehicle supporting position. The wheels may be moved by hand pressure to the retracted position.

The means for securing the pushchairs may take various forms. In its simplest form, it may comprise a set of a plurality of clamps, which may be affixed to adjacent frame members of the two pushchairs. The clamps may then be secured by hand operated screw members in order to effect a secure clamping. However, in a preferred arrangement, two interengaging rails are provided along the frames of the two chairs adjacent the frame base. For example, one member may be slid into the other member, and make a secure engagement as a friction fit. Alternatively, or in addition, hook and slot members may be provided in opposing parts of the two frames, so that the frames can be hooked together.

In its broadest sense, the invention is applicable to any hand powered and load

carrying vehicle, for example trolleys (supermarket, porter's or food trolleys), or hospital equipment. The invention will be used where a double load is required to be transported.

However, the present invention has particular application to the transport of children, for example prams, buggies and especially pushchairs, where the purchase of a double pushchair can be avoided in growing families, only two single pushchairs being required to meet the problem mentioned above. Upon the arrival of a second child, a second pushchair may be purchased, which may be a chair in accordance with the invention, a standard pushchair, or a chair with suitable securing means, so that the two pushchairs can be secured together as a double pushchair. When the first child outgrows the pushchair, one of the pushchairs may be dispensed with.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described merely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein : Figure 1 is a perspective view of two pushchairs, each incorporating a preferred form of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the two pushchairs of Figure 1 in a locked position forming a double pushchair ; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the two pushchairs of Figure 1 incorporating a modification of interengaging hooks and slots; Figure 4 is a sectional view of a preferred form of inter-engaging rails of the pushchairs; and Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the ball joint employed in the pushchairs of Figure 1.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, first and second pushchairs 2,4 each comprise a frame 6 comprising a network of interconnected struts 8 defining a central region 10 in which a seat (not shown) for example of canvas or plastics may be affixed for seating a child. Handles 9 are provided at the top of the frame.

First and second sets of wheels 14, 16 are positioned on either side of the frame at the base of the frame. Each wheel set 14, 16 comprises a front set of double wheels 18 and a rear set of double wheels 20. The outermost wheels of each set project somewhat from the side of the frame for stability.

The two sets of wheels 18,20 in the left hand set of wheels 14 in each vehicle is coupled to the frame through a ball joint 22. These joints 22 normally hold the wheels in a vehicle supporting position as shown. However, upon application of a sideways force to the joints 22, applied by hand, the wheels will move to a retracted position as shown in pushchairs 4, where wheel sets 18,20 are rotated through a right angle and are generally in the horizontal plane.

Referring to Figure 5, the ball joint 22 is shown in more detail. A frame strut 8 has an integral pin member 102 extending through a radial slot 104 to an integral axle member 106, which is rotatable within the joint 22, and is held in place by screws 108. The strut 8 has enlarged edge portions 110 to engage against the surface of the joint 22. Wheels 20 have a strut 100 extending into the ball joint, terminating an enlarged end 101.

In use, the wheels 20 can be moved in a direction out of the page of the drawing by reason of the pivoting of axle 106. The wheels are however stable in the ground engaging position since the engagement of edges 110 maintains the position by reason of friction with the ball joint surface.

As a means of reinforcing the joint, a sliding sleeve may be positioned over the ball joint in the ground engaging position to prevent movement of the ball joint. In the retracted position, a projection on the sliding sleeve may engage in a slot or recess of the ball joint to hold the ball joint in the retracted position.

Prior to securing the two pushchairs together, the wheels 20 are moved by hand to the retracted position, so that they do not interfere with the positioning together of the two

pushchairs.

In order to secure the two pushchairs 2, 4 together, securing means are provided comprising two interengaging rails 30,32 mounted on struts 8 just above the respective sets of wheels and above joints 22. The rails 30,32 as shown have a generally rectangular cross-section with rail 30 having a longitudinal slot 36 at its top, and rail 30 having a longitudinal slot 38 at its base. This permits rail 30 to be slid within rail 32 in order to secure the two rails together as shown in Figure 2 and hence hold the two vehicles together.

In a preferred form, the rectangular rails 30,32 are replaced with tubular rails, as shown in Figure 4, wherein rail 42 has a hollow cross-section and a longitudinal slot 44 at its outer side, and rail 40 is a solid tube which is attached to the framework by a steel bar 46. Tubular member 40 can be slid within tubular member 42, with steel bar 46 being positioned in slot 44.

The tops of the frames adjacent the handles 9 may be secured together by any suitable clamping mechanism for example two plate members engaging the adjacent struts 60 and having a hand screw for securing the clamps on the frame members.

In a further preferred form, as shown in Figure 3, vertical struts 70,72 of the wheelchair have additional securing means. The left hand vertical strut 72 mounts in a tube 74 a member 76 which is rotatable and slidable in a vertical direction a spring member 78 holds the member 76 in a lowermost position. The top and bottom of the member 76 have hook members 80, 82.

The right hand frame member 70 has vertical slots 86,88 in its rear surface. When the two vehicles are secured together, hook member 76 may be lifted vertically upward and rotated from an inoperative position to a position adjacent slots 86,88 on vehicle 2. The hook member 76 may then be released vertically downwards so that the hooks 80,82 engage in tubular members 86,88 to thereby to secure the two vehicles together in a completely secure manner.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle, comprising handle means for propelling the vehicle; frame means providing a load carrying region; first and second wheel means, spaced apart in the direction of the width of the frame, for supporting the vehicle, wherein one of the first and second wheel means is movable from a vehicle supporting position to a retracted position; and means for securing a side of the frame means adjacent said one wheel means to a frame means of a second hand propelled load carrying vehicle having first and second wheel means, spaced apart in the direction of the width of the frame, for supporting the vehicle, whereby the two vehicles can be propelled as a single vehicle.
2. First and second hand propelled load carrying vehicles, each vehicle comprising: handle means for propelling the vehicle; frame means for providing a load carrying region; first and second wheel means, spaced apart in the direction of the width of the frame, for supporting the vehicle; wherein a first vehicle has one of the first and second wheel means being movable from a vehicle supporting position to a retracted position; and including means for securing a side of the frame means of the first vehicle adjacent said one wheel means to an adjacent side of the frame means of the second vehicle.
3. A vehicle or vehicles according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the or each vehicle is a pushchair.
4 A vehicle or vehicles according to Claim 3, wherein said first set of wheels means comprises a set of wheels at the front of the pushchair and a set of wheels at the rear of the pushchair, and the second wheel means comprises a set of wheels at the front of the

pushchair and a second set of wheels at the rear of the pushchair.
5. A vehicle or vehicles according to Claim 4, wherein the first wheel means is coupled to the frame wheels by a pivotal joint to enable movement between vehicle supporting and retracted positions.
6. A vehicle or vehicles according to Claim 5, wherein the or each pivotal joint comprises an axle member located in a ball member, the first wheel means being coupled to the axle member by a spindle member, to enable pivoting of the wheel means.
7 A vehicle or vehicles according to any preceding claim, wherein the securing means includes a rail mounted on each side of the vehicle above the wheel means, the rails on the first and second vehicles being inter-engagable so that one rail may be slid within the other.
8. A vehicle or vehicles according to Claim 7, wherein the inter-engagable rail members are tubular in cross section, a first rail member being a hollow tubular member having an external slot, and the second tubular being a rod member and being attached to the frame means by a bar member which engages within the slot upon inter-engagement of the two rail members.
9. A vehicle or vehicles according to any preceding claim, wherein the securing means includes hook members mounted on one vehicle moveable to engage in slot members mounted on the other vehicle.
10. A vehicle or vehicles as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the hook members are mounted on a rod member which is slidable along its length and rotatable about its length, so that the hook member can be manoeuvred so as to engage within the slot members of the other vehicle.
11. A vehicle or vehicles according to Claim 10, wherein the rod member is spring loaded to a hook engaging position
12. A pushchair or pushchairs substantially as described, with reference to the accompanying drawings