GB2413309A

GB2413309A - Connecting a pair of hand propelled load carrying vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2413309A
Application number: GB0409182A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Donna Naseby
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-04-24
Filing date: 2004-04-24
Publication date: 2005-10-26
Also published as: GB0409182D0; GB2413310A; GB0501074D0

Abstract

Disclosed is a hand propelled load carrying vehicle comprising first and second vehicle units (see figure 2) such as strollers or pushchairs 1. Each pushchair comprises two spaced apart side frames 2, 3, each side frame mounting a front wheel 11, a rear wheel 12 and a handle 10. The front and rear wheels of one frame of one of the pushchairs are detachable so as reveal attachment points which may be secured in brackets 14 on the other pushchair. The handle 22 of the first pushchair may also be detached so as to be inserted through bracket 14 on the second pushchair. The present invention provides a means for connecting two pushchairs for transporting two children.

Description

24 1 3309

PUSHCHAIR

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to hand propelled load carrying vehicles, for example pushchairs of the type used to conveyinfants or srr1 children. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus and method for connected together two or more such pushchairs.

Background of the Invention

Pushchairs are widelyused for conveying infants and small children. Most families have more than one child, and in many cases families have two children 60th of whom require the use of a pushchair.

Whilst a toddler may be able to walk there maybe occasions, where the child is tired and needs to sit in a pushchair.

Most families with more than one child cannot provide one to one attention to all of their children at all times, in particular, one parent is often in a situation where both of those children will require use of a pushchair. Illis Is very old problem, and many solutions have been proposed. For example, pushchairs with two seats are available. Stash double pushchairs can be configured with the seats side by side, or one in front of the other.

I he problem with double pushchairs is that they are much less manoeuvrable than pushchairs having only a single seat. The result is that families will often purchase one or more single pushchair, and a double pushchair, only using the double pushchair when one adult must look after two chldrcn.

A number of proposals have been made to attach two single pushchairs together, thereby allowing families to purchase only the number of pushchairs they require, and to use them as single or double pushchairs as required.

US 6,527,294 describes a device in which two pushchairs are connected together using clips. The front and rear wheels on one side of one of the two pushchairs are pivoted away from the ground.

When looking at the combination of the two pushchairs joined together, at the front of the vehicle, there are three sets of two wheels in contact with the ground.

GB 2,373,484 is another device where twit pushchairs are joined together with the wheels on one side of the two pushchairs pivoted away from the ground. To connect the two pushchairs together one side of each pushchair is equipped with a rail extending from the front to the rear of the pushchair. The shapes of the respective rails are such that one mates and interlocks with the other.

To attach the two pushchairs together requires the user to unlock the front an rear wheels of one of the pushchairs, retract them and lock them in the retracted position, to align the rails of each pushchair, and then to hold one pushchair still whilst pushing the other pushchair backwards until the two are locked together. To disconnect the two pushchairs, the process must be earned out In reverse.

It would be desirable to provide an improved pushchair which can be connected to another pushchair.

Summary of the Invention

One aspect of the invention provides a hand propelled load carrying vehicle as specified m Maim 1.

Other preferred features of the invention are specified in the claims dependent on Claim 1.

The present invention provides a simple means of attaching together two hand propelled load carrying vehicles. In the case of pushchairs, the ability to quickly attach or detach two pushchairs is of great advantage to parents. Not only can parents avoid having two single pushchairs and a double pushchair, but the very simple and fast method of attaching and detaching the vehicles is particularly valuable when caring for children, since children require attention, so the smaller amount of time spent attaching or detaching vehicles together the bener.

The present Invention improves on the prior art by using components of the frames of vehicle to constitute a secure means of attaching vehicle units together, rather than providing means to move wheels to an out of use position, and then either providing relatively complex attachment means, or insubstantial attachment means such as clips.

Another advantage provided by the present invention is that where the hand propelled vehicle is a pushchair of the type that folds up, when two such pushchairs are joined together according to the invention, each pushchair can still be folded up without separating the two pushchairs.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which byway of example illustrate a hand propelled vehicle of the invention: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a pushchair; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of two pushchairs joined together; and Figure 3 illustrates the steps involved in joining together two pushchairs according to the invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a pushchair 1 comprising two spaced apart substantially triangular frames 2 and 3, joined together by a folding mechanism 4 which includes a horizontal cross-member 5. The triangular frame 2 includes an elongate frame member 6 supporting a front wheel arrangement 9 at one of its ends, and a handle member 10 at its other end. The front wheel arrangement 9 includes two spaced apart wheels 11 and is mounted In the end of the tubular member 6 to swivel about a substantially vertical axis when in use. A substantially upright frame member 7 extends downwardly from the elongate tubular member 6 and is provided at its free end with a wheel arrangement 12 including two spaced apart wheels 13. The wheel arrangcmcut is fixed so that the wheels rotate imp plane parallel with the plane of the triangular frames 2 and 3, thereby ensuring that the pushchair follows a straight path. A lower bracing member 8 connects the elongate frame member 6 to the upright frame member 7 at a point on the frame members 6, 7 above but in close proximity to the wheel arrangements 9 and 12.

The triangular frame 2 is provided with three tubular brackets 14. The first tubular bracket 14 is attached to the outside of the elongate frame member 6 below but close to the handle member 10.

The second tubular brachct 14 is again attached to the outside of the elongate frame member 6, but m this case close to the wheel arrangement 9. The third tubular bracket 14 is attached to the outside of the substantiallyupright frame member 7, in close proxinityto the wheel arrangement 12.

A scat 15, including a harness 16 extends between the triangular frames 2 and 3. A foot-rest 17 also extends between the triangular frames 2 and 3. Both the seat 15 and the foot-rest 17 are made of a flexible material, thereby allowing folding of the pushchair.

The triangular frame 3 includes an elongate frame member 18 supporting a front wheel arrangement 9 at one of its ends, and a handle member 22 at its other end. The front wheel arrangement 9 includes two spaced apart wheels 11 and IS mounted on a stub 20 to swivel about a substantially vertical axis when in use. The lower free end of the elongate frame member 18 fits inside and engages with the stub 20, the free end of the elongate frame member 18 and the mslde of the stub 20 constituting a male/female connection. These two elements are locked together by means of spring loaded studs 21 which are located in elongate member 18. The stub 20 is provided with apertures 28 in which the studs locate. The springs of the spring loaded studs 21 force the studs outwards, therebyensumlg positive locking of the stub 20 to the elongate frame mcmScr 18. 'do detach the stub 20 from the elongate frame member 18, the two studs 21 are pushed together between finger and thumb, and the stub 20 is pulled away from the free end of the elongate frame member 18. The studs 21 have rotmded heads to facilitate insertion and removal of the stub 20 from the elongate frame member 18.

The handle member 22 is attached to the elongate frame member 18 by a male/female connection, the free end of the handle member 22 locating inside the upper free end of the elongate frame member 18. The handle member 22 is locked in place by spring loaded studs 23. The elongate member 18 is provided with apertures in which the studs 23 locate. The springs of the spring loaded sulds 23 force the studs outwards, therebyensuring a positive locking of the handle member 22 to the elongate frame member 18. To detach the handle member 22 from the elongate frame member 18, the two studs 23 are pushed together between finger and thumb, and the handle member 23 is pi lied away from the upper free end of the elongate frame member. The studs 23 have rounded heads to facilitate insertion and removal of the handle member 23 from the elongate frame member Figure 2 illustrates two pushchairs A and B according to the invention joined together. The stubs 20 and 25, and the handle member 22 (not shown) of the pushchair A are removed. The lower free end of the elongate frame member 18 is inserted Into the bracket 14 attached to the lower end of the elongate frame member 6 of the pushchair B. The free end of the substantially upright frame member 24 is inserted Into the bracket 14 attached to substantially upright frame member 7 of the pushchair B. To complete attachment of pushchair A to pushchair B. the upper free end of elongate frame member 18 of pushchair A Is aligned with the upper bracket 14 of pushchair B. and the handle 22, which had previously been removed from pushchair A is inserted through the bracket 14 and back into the elongate frame member 18. This last stage is best seen In Figure 3.

The procedures for attaching and detaching two pushchairs according to the invention will now be described with reference to Figure 3. s

In step 1, the stub 20 mounting wheel arrangement 9 is detached from the elongate frame member 18 hynrecsingtoocherthe sr.nng-!oaded studs 21. Thc Sac piOCCd;5 fU] UWt'tl CL) dC'LaCh the stub 25.

In step 2, the free end of the elongate frame member 18 Is inserted into the bracket 14, the studs 21 engaging filth apertures 27 in the bracket 14.

In step 3, the handle member 22 is released from the elongate frame member 18 bypressing together the spring-loaded studs 23 and pulling on the handle member 22.

In step 4, the elongate frame member 18 is aligned with the bracket 14.

In step 5, the handle member 22 is inserted into the bracket 14 and into the aligned elongate frame member 18, the spring-loaded studs 23 locking into the apertures 28.

To detach the two prams and re-assemble pram A, the attachment process described above is performed in reverse.

As can be seen from both Figures 1 and 2, the lower brackets 14 (attached to the lower end of the elongate frame member 6 and the substantiallyupright frame member 7 respectively) are each provided with apertures in which the spring-loaded studs 21 can engaged.

In the embodiment of the Invention shown the vehicle units joined together are pushchairs. Equally, the vehicle units could be prams, other hand propelled child carrying vehicles, or other hand propelled load canying vehicles.

In the drawings, and Figure 1 in particular, the triangular frames 2, 3 include the first and second parts of the attachment means respectively Altematlvely, a pair of vehicle units, such as pushchairs, may be manufactured where one of the vehicle ttS iS provided with the first part of the attachment means and the other vehicle tmit is provided with the second part of the attachment means.

Claims

Claims 1. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle comprising first and

second vehicle units attachable one to the other; each vehicle unit comprising two spaced apart side frames and a load supporting means between the two side frames, each side frame mounting a front wheel and a rear wheel and a handle member; wherein the front wheel and the rear wheel of one side frame of one of the vehicles are detachably mounted on the said frame; wherein one of the side frames of one of the vehicle units includes a first part of an attachment means and one of the side frames of the other vehicle comprises a second part of the attachment means; wherein the first part of the attachment means comprises at least three brackets secured to the said side frame at spaced apart locations, and the second part of the attachment means comprises at least three attachment elements, each element co-operating with one of the said at least three brackets to attach the two vehicle units together; wherein the said detachably mounted front and rear wheels are each attachable to one of the said at least three attachment elements, and wherein detaching one of the said detachably mounted wheels reveals one of the said attachment elements.
2. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to Claim 1, wherein each bracket comprises a tube, and each attachment element is insertable into the tube.
3. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to Claim 2, wherein the tube and the attachment element are of the same shape in crosssection, the external dimension of the attachment element being smaller than the internal dimension of the tube.
4. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to anypreceding claim, wherein the handle member of the side of the frame of the vehicle motu1ting the said detachable wheels is also detachably mounted on the said frame, and wherein detachable handle member is a part of one of the attachment elements.
5. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to Claim 4, wherein part of the detachable handle member passes through one of the brackets to attach the two vehicle units together.
6. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to Claim 4 or 5, wherein the detachable handle member is attachable to the side frame by means of corresponding male and female connectors, one of the connectors forming part of the frame and the other forming part of the handle member.
7. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to anypreceding claim, wherein the first and second parts of the attachment means each include part of a locking means.
8. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to Claim 7, wherein the locking means comprises a spring loaded stud and a bore in which the stud locates to lock together the first: and second parts of the attachment means.
9. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to Clalm 8, wherein said stud has a rounded head.
10. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to any of (]aims 7 to 9, wherein the stud is located in the elongate frame member or in the elements detachable from the said elongate frame member.
11. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to Claim 10, wherein the bore is located in the elongate frame member or in the elements detachable from the said elongate frame member.
12. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to Any preceding claim, wherein the detachably mounted front and rear wheels sure attached to a stub, Ad the stub is detachably mountable on a free end of one of the elongate frame members.
13. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to Claim 12, wherein the stub is detachably mountable on a free end of one of the elongate frame members by means of corresponding male and female connectors, one of the connectors forming part of the frame and the other form ng part of the handle.
14. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to anypreceding claim, wherein one side frame of one of the vehicle units is provided with the first part of the attachment means and the other side of the same vehicle twit is provided with the second part of the attachment means.
15. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to Claim 12, wherein one side frame of the other vehicle unit is provided with the first part of the attachment means and the other side of the same vehicle unit is provided with the second part of the attachment means.
16. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to anypreceding claim, wherein each vehicle unit is a pushchair, or a pram having a capacity to carry a single child.
17. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle substantially as shown in, and as described with reference to, the drawings.