GB2385628A

GB2385628A - A clip for a puschair

Info

Publication number: GB2385628A
Application number: GB0204019A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter R Boney
Original assignee: East Coast Nursery Products Ltd
Current assignee: East Coast Nursery Products Ltd
Priority date: 2002-02-20
Filing date: 2002-02-20
Publication date: 2003-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 2022-02-20
Also published as: GB2385628B; GB0204019D0

Abstract

A clip for a pushchair, having base member (12) and carriage (14) slidable across the base member. The clip has gripping arms (18, 38) each having one or more gripping surfaces movable toward or away from one another such that a frame for a pushchair or the like can be held between the gripping arms.

Description

PS05732GB A Clip for a Pushchair The present invention relates to a clip for a pushchair, and in particular to a clip for a pushchair multi-rainwear cover.

A number of add-on features are currently available for pushchairs, including, for example, rainwear covers. Such add-on features are attached to the tubular frame of a pushchair by means of various clip mechanisms.

This invention relates to a new improved clip mechanism that is simple in construction allowing it to be easily attached or detached from a pushchair frame.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clip for a pushchair, the clip comprising a base member, one end of which has a gripping arm, the clip further comprising a carriage slidable across said base, the carriage having a second gripping arm, said second gripping arm lying opposite said first gripping arm, each gripping arm having a substantially flat lower portion and a curved upper portion so to allow objects of different geometrical shape to be located between said lower and upper portions of each arm.

In this way, the clip is capable of being used for push chair frames that are circular, oval or square in cross-section.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clip for a pushchair, the clip comprising a base member, one end of which has at least one gripping surface, and teeth provided in a part of a face thereof, the clip further comprising a carriage slidable across said face, the carriage having at least one gripping surface, the or each gripping surface on the base member lying opposite the or each gripping surface of the carriage, and a locking member engageable with the teeth by means of a button lying co-planar with the base member, the carriage being slidable

along the base member so to vary the distance between the or each gripping surface on the base member and carriage respectively.

In this way, the gripping surfaces can be withdrawn from each other easily and efficiently by depressing the button which remains unobstructed when the gripping surfaces are close to each other.

Preferably the button is biased to bias the locking member into the locking position.

The button may be biased by a spring and preferably is biased by an integral leaf spring.

Preferably the gripping surfaces are provided on the inner faces of arms extending upwards from the carriage and base member respectively.

Preferably the arms exhibit resilient elasticity.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which : Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clip constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the clip of figure 1; Figure 3 is side cross-section view taken through A-A of figure 2; Figure 4 is an underside view of the clip of figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 is a side cross-section view of a further embodiment of a clip made in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 6 is an exploded view of part of the clip circled in Figure 5.

Referring to the figures, a clip 10 according to the present invention comprises an elongate base member 12 and a sliding carriage 14 linked to, and slidable across, part of the length of the base member 12.

The base member 12 is made from an integrally-moulded plastics material. The base member 12 is generally in the form of a thick strip 16 with an upstanding arm 18. For the purposes of the description, the base member 12 can be conveniently divided into two parts 20,22 corresponding to the ends of the strip 16.

The first part 20 of the base member 12 has an upstanding arm 18 formed near the end thereof.

The free end of the first part 20 of the base member 12 is upwardly curved so to provide a gripping area 22 for the fingers of a user of the clip 10.

The second part 22 of the base member 12 has a groove 26 formed within and along a substantial part of each of the lateral edges of that part 22 of the base member 12.

A plurality of teeth 30, forming one part of a ratchet mechanism, are formed in a central portion of the top surface of the second part 22 of the base member 12.

At the junction of the first and second parts 20,22 of the single-piece base member 12 is a counter-bored aperture 32 which allows the clip 10 to be attached via a rivet (not shown) to the frame of a rain cover or similar appenditure (also not shown).

The sliding carriage 14 has side walls 34 with inwardly protruding ends which extend into the grooves 26 formed in the lateral edges of the second part 22 of the base member 12. The carriage 14 is thus able to slide along the length of the grooves 26.

Each side wall 34 of the carriage 14 has an aperture 36.

One end of the carriage 14 that faces the arm 18 of the first part 20 of the base member 12 is formed as a further upwardly extending arm 38.

Each arm 18,38 is made up of three portions. The upper portion of each arm 18,38 is curved inwardly (towards each other) providing a first gripping surface 40 on each arm.

The middle portion of each arm 18, 38 has a substantially flat inner face thereby providing a second gripping surface 42 on each arm 18,38.

Finally, the lower portion of each arm 18,38 consists of an inwardly extending protrusion having a flat inner face, such inner face providing a third gripping surface 44 on each arm 18,38.

The side and end walls of the carriage 14 provide an area therebetween in which is located a switch mechanism. The switch mechanism comprises a switch member 46 that is pivotable about a metallic pin 48 which extends between the side walls 34 of the carriage 14, the ends of the pin 48 being received within the apertures 36 formed in the side walls 34.

One end of the switch member 46 has a finger 50 extending downwards therefrom, the end of the finger 50 being engageable with the teeth 30 formed in the top surface of the base member 12, so to prevent movement of the carriage 14 along the base member 12.

The other end of the switch member 46 is provided with a plastic leaf spring 52 against the bias of which that end of the switch member 46 to be depressed so lifting the finger 50 from engagement with the teeth 30 thereby to allow movement of the carriage 14 along the second portion 22 of the base member 12.

The top surface of the switch member 46 covers the spring 52 and finger 50 and extends between and across the side walls 34 of the carriage 14 so encasing the switching mechanism therein.

The end wall of the carriage 16 remote from the end wall carrying the arm 38 has an inwardly protruding surface 54 against which the leaf spring 52 abuts. The surface 54

protrudes inwards to such an extent that only a small gap 56 is provided between the end of the protruding surface 54 and the end wall of the carriage 14 carrying the arm 38. The gap 56 is sufficient to allow the tip of the finger 50 to be positioned therebetween when the finger 50 engages with the teeth 30. This prevents the finger 50 from being forced to one side when the switch member 46 is depressed.

Movement of the carriage 14 along the groove 26 has the result of varying the distance between the first and second arms 18,38 and hence their respective gripping surfaces 40,42, 44. The adjustment distance available is such that either of the associated gripping surfaces 40,42, 44 can efficiently grip therebetween a frame of a pushchair (not shown) which is circular, oval or even square in cross-section.

In use, the clip 10 is attached to a pushchair frame by firstly depressing the switch member 46 to dis-engage the finger 50 from the teeth 30 and then sliding the carriage 14 outwards to increase the distance between the arms 18,38 and hence their gripping surfaces 40,42, 44. The pushchair frame is then located between either one of the three gripping surfaces 40,42, 44 depending on the shape of the frame, whereupon the carriage 14 is slid forwards until the relevant gripping surfaces 40,42, 44 grip the frame. At this point, the switch member 46 is released to engage the finger 50 with the teeth 30 so to lock the carriage 14 in position.

To detach the clip 10 from the frame the switch member 46 is depressed to dis-engage the finger 50 from the teeth 30 and the carriage 14 is slid outwards.

In an alternative embodiment, the teeth 30 are angled slightly towards the end of the first part 20 so allow the carriage 14 to be slid inwards to decrease the distance between the arms 18,38 without the need to depress the switch member 46. However, due to the angle of the teeth, the carriage 14 cannot be slid outwards without depression of the switch member 46.

Alternatively, the resilience and elasticity of the plastics material for example, acetal, from which the clip is made allows for the clip 10 to be simply pulled away from the

frame using the gripping area 22 provided at the end of the first portion 20 of the base member 12.

In a further embodiment which is shown in Figures 5 and 6 (Figure 5 does not show the carriage 14) the free end of the second part 22 has a retaining lug 56 incorporated therein. The lug 56 is spring-like such that it is able to be depressed against the base member 12 to allow the carriage 14 to be first located into the base member 12 after which, the bias of the lug 56 prevents the carriage from sliding back over the lug 56 and disengaging with the base member 12.

Claims

1. A clip for a pushchair, the clip comprising a base member and carriage slidable across said base member, the clip having a first gripping arm located at one end of the base member and a second gripping arm located on the carriage, said first and second gripping arms lying opposite each other, each gripping arm having a substantially flat lower portion and a curved upper portion so to allow objects of different geometrical shape to be located between said lower and/or upper portions of each arm.

2. A clip according to claim 1, wherein said first and second gripping arms extend upwards from the carriage and base member respectively.

3. A clip according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a gripping surface is provided on the inner face of one or each gripping arm.

4. A clip according to claim 3, wherein the or each gripping surface is provided on the inner face of the upper portion of the respective gripping arm.

5. A clip according to claim 3, wherein the or each gripping surface is provided on the inner face of the lower portion of the respective gripping arm.

6. A clip according to claim 3, wherein the gripping surface is provided on the inner face of the upper and lower portions of the respective gripping arm.

7. A clip according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein said first and second gripping arms are made from a material that exhibits resilient elasticity.

8. A clip according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein a plurality of teeth are provided in part of a face of the base member.

9. A clip according to claim 8, wherein the clip further comprises a locking member engageable with the teeth of the base member to prevent the carriage from sliding across the base member beyond a pre-determined location.

10. A clip according to claim 9, wherein the locking member is engaged with the teeth by means of a switching mechanism.

11. A clip according to claim 10, wherein the switching mechanism includes a button.

12. A clip according to claim 11, wherein the button lies co-planar with the base member.

13. A clip according claim 12, wherein the button is pivotable about a pin extending across the carriage.

14. A clip according to claim 13, wherein button has a finger extending downwards therefrom, the finger being engageable with the teeth formed in the base member.

15. A clip according to claim 14, wherein the button includes a leaf spring, such that depression of part of the button causes the finger to be raised, thereby disengaging the finger from the teeth.

16. A clip according to claim 15, wherein the button has a top surface which covers the finger and spring, the top surface extends across the walls of the carriage so encasing the switching mechanism therein.

17. A clip for a pushchair, the clip comprising a base member and carriage slidable across said base member, the clip having a first gripping arm located at one end of the base member and a second gripping arm located on the carriage, said first and second gripping arms lying opposite each other, each gripping arm having a curved upper

portion, a substantially flat middle portion, and an inwardly-extending but substantially flat lower portion so to allow objects of different geometrical shape to be located between said upper and/or middle and/or lower portions of each arm.

18. A clip according to claim 17, wherein a gripping surface is provided on the inner face of the lower and/or middle and/or upper portion of the or each gripping arm.

19. A clip for a pushchair, the clip comprising a base member, one end of which has at least one gripping surface, and teeth provided in a part of a face thereof, the clip further comprising a carriage slidable across said face, the carriage having at least one gripping surface, the or each gripping surface on the base member lying opposite the or each gripping surface of the carriage, and a locking member engageable with the teeth by means of a switching mechanism, the carriage being slidable along the base member so to vary the distance between the or each gripping surface on the base member and carriage respectively.

20. A clip according to any preceding claim, wherein the base member has a groove formed within and along a part of each edge.

21. A clip according to claim 20, wherein the carriage has side walls with inwardly protruding ends which extend into the grooves of the base member such that the carriage is able to slide along the length of the grooves of the base member.

22. A clip according to any preceding claim, wherein one end of the base member has a retaining lug formed therein.

23. A clip according to claim 22, wherein the lug is spring-like such that it is able to be depressed against the base member to allow the carriage to be first located on the base member, the bias of the lug preventing the carriage from sliding back over the lug and thereby disengaging from the base member.

24. A clip according to any preceding claim wherein the base member has means at one end to connect to the clip to frame.

25. A clip according to claim 24, wherein the means comprises an aperture to receive a connecting part of the frame.

26. A clip as substantially hereinbefore described and referred to in the accompanying figures.