GB2418644A

GB2418644A - Canopy arrangement for pushchair or the like

Info

Publication number: GB2418644A
Application number: GB0421660A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Hu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-09-29
Filing date: 2004-09-29
Publication date: 2006-04-05
Also published as: GB0421660D0

Abstract

A canopy device for a stroller includes two connecting mechanisms, a first support bracket 4, and a second support bracket 5. Each of the two connecting mechanisms includes a support member 61, a first pivot member 62 and a second pivot member 63. Thus, the first pivot member and the second pivot member are spaced from each other and are mounted on different sides of the support member, so that when the canopy device is folded, the first support bracket is spaced from the second support bracket with a determined distance, thereby preventing a user's finger from being clamped and hurt by the first support bracket and the second support bracket so as to protect the user's safety. The canopy device may comprise either a sunshade or a rainhood.

Description

241 8644

CANOPY ARRANGEMENT FOR PUSHCHAIR OR THE LIKE

The present invention relates to a canopy arrangement for a pushchair S or the like, and more particularly to a sunshade device for a pushchair or buggy.

A conventional sunshade device 1 for a pushchair in accordance with the prior art shown in Figure 5 comprises a connecting mechanism 13 l0 mounted on a frame 20 of the pushchair, a pivot shaft 14 mounted on the connecting mechanism 13, and two support frames 11 and 12 each pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft 14. However, the two support frames 11 and 12 are mounted on the same pivot shaft 14. Thus, when the sunshade device 1 is folded, the two support brackets 11 and 12 abut each other and intersect at Is the common pivot shaft, so that a user's fingers are easily caught between and hurt by the two intersecting support frames 11 and 12. This represents a hazard for the user.

An object of the present invention is to overcome or alleviate the above disadvantage.

The invention is defined in claim 1.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a sunshade device for a stroller, comprising: two connecting mechanisms each including a support member, a first pivot member mounted on the support member, and a second pivot member mounted on the support member; a first support frame member having two ends each pivotally mounted on the first pivot member of a respective one of the two connecting mechanisms; and a second support frame member having two ends each pivotally mounted on the second pivot member of a respective one of the two connecting mechanisms.

The above sunshade device can be operated in a safe manner when being folded.

Preferably in the sunshade device of the invention, the first pivot member and the second pivot member are spaced from each other and are mounted on different sides of the support member, so that when the first canopy support frame member is moved toward the second canopy support frame member, the first frame member is spaced from the second frame member by a determined distance, thereby preventing the user's fingers from being clamped and hurt ty the first frame member and the second frame member.

Further preferred features are defined in the dependent claims.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description by way of example only with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pushchair or stroller including a sunshade device in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a partially cut-away perspective view of the stroller as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic operational view of the stroller as shown in Figure 2: Figure 4 is a schematic plan operational view of the stroller as shown in Figure 2; and Figure 5 is a plan operational view of a conventional sunshade device

for a stroller in accordance with the prior art.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 to 3, a stroller in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a substantially U-shaped stroller frame 2, and a sunshade device 3 mounted on the frame 2.

IS The sunshade device 3 includes two connecting mechanisms 6 each mounted on the frame 2 and each including a support member 61 attached to the frame 2, a first pivot member 62 mounted on the support member 61, and a second pivot member 63 mounted on the support member 61 and spaced from the first pivot member 62, a substantially U-shaped first sunshade support frame member 4 having two ends each pivotally mounted on the first pivot member 62 of a respective one of the two connecting mechanisms 6, and a substantially U-shaped second sunshade support frame member 5 having two ends each pivotally mounted on the second pivot member 63 of a respective one of the two connecting mechanisms 6.

The sunshade device 3 further includes a canopy 7 mounted between the first support frame member 4 and the second support frame member 5.

The support member 61 has a side formed with a coupling portion 64 secured on the frame 2. Preferably, the first pivot member 62 and the second pivot member 63 are mounted on different sides of the support member 61.

Preferably, the first pivot member 62 is mounted on a first side of the support member 61, and the second pivot member 63 is mounted on a second side of S the support member 61.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the first pivot member 62 and the second pivot member 63 are spaced from each other and are mounted on different sides of the support member 61, so that when the first support frame member to 4 is moved toward the second support frame member 5, the first support frame member 4 is spaced from the second support frame member 5 by a predetermined distance, thereby preventing a user's fingers from being caught and hurt by the first support frame member 4 and the second support frame member 5 when the sunshade device 3 is folded.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the support frame members 4 and 5 preferably have limited travel on support members 61 (e.g. as a result of engagement of their tubular end portions with the edges of the support members 61) which prevent the frame members 4 and 5 from being closed against each other. In any case the frame members 4 and 5 are preferably shaped and dimensioned to prevent their free ends from intersecting when pivoted towards each other.

In a variant the canopy 7 may be e.g. a rainhood rather than a sunshade.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other s possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A canopy arrangement for a pushchair or the like, the arrangement comprising: two spaced-apart connecting mechanisms each including a support member, a first pivot member mounted on the support member, and a second pivot member mounted on the support member; a first canopy support frame member having two ends each pivotally mounted on the first pivot member of a respective one of the two connecting mechanisms; and a second canopy support frame member having two ends each pivotally mounted on the second pivot member of a respective one of the two connecting mechanisms.

2. A canopy arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the angular travel of said canopy support frame members on their associated pivot members is restricted to prevent said canopy support frame members from being closed against each other to trap a user's fingers.

3. A canopy arrangement in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first pivot member and the second pivot member are spaced apart from each other.

4. A canopy arrangement in accordance with any preceding claim wherein the first pivot member and the second pivot member project from different sides of the support member.

5. A canopy arrangement in accordance with any preceding claim wherein the first pivot member is mounted on a first side of the support member and engages ends of the first canopy support frame member on one side thereof, and the second pivot member is mounted on a second side of S the support member and engages ends of the second canopy support frame member on the other side thereof.

6. A canopy arrangement in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein each of said support members is provided with means for attaching it l 0 to a frame of the pushchair or the like.

7. A canopy arrangement in accordance with claim 6, wherein each said support member has a side formed with a coupling portion for releasably securing it to said frame of the pushchair or the like. 1)

8. A canopy arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein each of the two ends of the first canopy support frame member are spaced from the respective ends of the second canopy support frame member.

9. A canopy arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein said canopy support frame members are shaped and dimensioned to prevent them from intersecting when pivoted towards each other on said pivot members, thereby prevent catching of a user's fingers between them.

10. A canopy arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein a sunshade is attached to said canopy support frame members.

11. A sunshade arrangement substantially as described hereinabove with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A pushchair substantially as described hereinabove with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.