GB2425095A

GB2425095A - Folding baby stroller frame

Info

Publication number: GB2425095A
Application number: GB0507674A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Murray Forbes Hutchinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-04-15
Filing date: 2005-04-15
Publication date: 2006-10-18
Also published as: GB0507674D0

Abstract

The frame has pivoting supports (32) and telescopic handle units. Two rear legs (18) are connected respectively and pivotally to the front legs such that each of the rear legs rotates relative to respective front leg in a plane. Rear wheel links (20) are connected respectively to the rear wheels. Each of the links has lower end connected fixedly to a corresponding one of the rear wheels, and an upper end connected pivotally to respective one of the rear legs. Each of the supports has front and rear ends connected pivotally to respective one of the front and rear legs, respectively.

Description

FOLDING BABY STROLLER FRAME

This invention relates to baby strollers, and more particularly to a folding baby stroller frame that gets shorter when it is folded.

The size of a baby stroller when folded is very important because of the frequent need to transport such strollers in automobiles, and occasionally in planes, buses and trains. Furthermore, the folded size of strollers also ultimately impacts overall costs because a smaller size can reduce shipping costs.

Many conventional strollers have satisfactory dimensions in their folded thickness and width. However, the extension of rear wheels, a handle and canopy is such that a folded conventional stroller is relatively long.

With many designs, when a stroller is folded, it gets longer.

Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide a folding baby stroller frame that gets shorter when it is folded.

According to an aspect of this invention, a folding baby stroller frame comprises: two front legs interconnected so as to allow for movement of the front legs toward and away from each other; two front wheels mounted respectively on lower ends of the front legs; two rear legs interconnected so as to allow for movement of the rear legs toward and away from each other, the rear legs being connected respectively and pivotally to the front legs such that each of the rear legs can rotate relative to a corresponding one of the front legs in a plane, on which the corresponding one of the front legs is disposed; two rear wheels; two rear wheel links connected respectively to the rear wheels, each of the rear wheel links having a lower end connected fixedly to a corresponding one of the rear wheels, and an upper end connected pivotally to a respective one of the rear legs; and two pivoting supports, each of which has a front end connected pivotally to a respective one of the front legs, and a rear end connected pivotally to a respective one of the rear wheel links.

According to another aspect of this invention, a folding baby stroller frame comprises: two front legs interconnected so as to allow for movement of the front legs toward and away from each other; two front wheels mounted respectively on lower ends of the front legs; two rear legs interconnected so as to allow for movement of the rear legs toward and away from each other, the rear legs being connected respectively and pivotally to the front legs such that each of the rear legs can rotate relative to a corresponding one of the front legs in a plane, on which the corresponding one of the front legs is disposed; two rear wheels connected respectively to the rear legs; and two telescopic handle units, each of which is connected to a respective one of the front legs and a respective one of the rear legs.

These and other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a folding baby stroller frame according to this invention when it is completely open and in an operating condition; Fig. 2 is a side view of the preferred embodiment when it is partially folded; Fig. 3 is a side view of the preferred embodiment when it is completely folded and collapsed into its minimum size; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a canopy mounting connector of the preferred embodiment; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along Line 5-5 in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along Line 6-6 in Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig.l, the preferred embodiment of a folding baby stroller frame 10 according to this invention has two side frame sections 12, each of which includes an inclined front leg 14 having a lower end mounted with a front wheel 16, and an inclined rear leg 18. Two rear wheel links 20 are connected respectively to two rear wheels 22.

Each of the rear wheel links 20 has a lower end connected fixedly to the corresponding rear wheel 22, and an upper end connected pivotally to the corresponding rear leg 18 by means of a lower pivot connector 24.

The side frame sections 12 are interconnected by a rear X-support 26 and a bottom X-support 28. The rear X-support 26 includes two inclined intersecting leg links 26' that are connected pivotally to each other at middle portions thereof. The leg links 26' have lower ends connected respectively arid pivotally to the lower pivot connectors 24, and upper ends connected respectively and pivotally to two upper pivot connectors 27. The bottom X-support 28 includes two horizontal intersecting leg links 28' that are connected pivotally to each other at middle portions thereof. Each of the leg links 28' is connected pivotally to the corresponding lower pivot connector 24 at one end thereof, and to the corresponding front leg 14 at the other end thereof by a front pivot connector 29. As such, the front legs 14 can move toward and away from each other.

The rear legs 18 can also move toward and away from each other. Therefore, when the stroller frame 10 is folded, the width thereof can be reduced.

Each of the front wheels 16 is connected to the corresponding rear wheel link 20 by a pivoting support 32 and through its connection to the corresponding front leg 14. Each of the pivoting support 32 has a front end connected pivotally to the corresponding front leg 14, and a rear end connected pivotally to the corresponding rear wheel link 20. A flexible accessories basket 30 has two opposite sides that are fastened respectively to the pivoting supports 32.

The stroller frame 10 further includes two seat supports and two telescopic handle units. The seat supports 40 can support a baby seat (not shown) thereon. Each of the seat supports 40 has a front end connected pivotally to the corresponding front leg 14 by a pivot pin 42, and a rear end connected pivotally to the corresponding lower pivot connector 24. Each of the handle units includes a lower outer tube 34, a grip member 44, and an upper handle tube 46 that has a lower end mounted telescopically within an upper end of the lower outer tube 34, and an upper end connected fixedly to the grip member 44. Each Of the lower outer tubes 34 is connected to the corresponding front leg 14 by a U-shaped pivot fitting 36. Each of the U-shaped pivot fittings 36 has a lower portion sleeved fixedly on the upper end of the corresponding front leg 14, and an upper portion connected pivotally to the corresponding lower outer tube 34.

Referring to Figs. 1,2,4, 5and6, twoelongatedcanopy mounting connectors 48 are sleeved respectively on the lower outer tubes 34. Each of the lower outer tubes 34 is formed with a plurality of holes 35 therethrough. The canopy mounting connectors 48 have a plurality of integral projections 60 extending respectively into the holes 35 in the lower outer tubes 34. As a result, the upper handle tubes 46 can move within the lower outer tubes 34, whereas the canopy mounting connectors 48 cannot move on the lower outer tubes 34. The upper handle tubes 46 can be locked on the lower outer tubes 34 in a known manner. As such, the lengths of the handle units can be adjusted according to the height of the user.

Each of the rear legs 18 is connected rotatably to the canopy mounting connectors 48 by a pivot pin 38. Thus, each of the lower outer tubes 34 cooperates with the corresponding canopy mounting connector 48, the corresponding front leg 14 and the corresponding rear leg 18 so as to constitute an inverted Y-shaped structure.

Each of the canopy mounting Connectors 48 further has - a slide slot 53 extending along a longitudinal direction thereof and configured as a dovetail groove. Two sliding connectors 54 are formed with dovetail tongues (not shown) confined respectively and slidably within the slide slots 53 in the canopy mounting connectors 48, and are connected respectively and fixedly to two ends of an inverted U-shaped canopy frame 50. The sliding connectors 54 are locked releasably on the canopy mounting connectors 48. When pushbuttons 56 on the sliding connectors 54 are pressed, the sliding connectors 54 can be moved on the canopy mounting connectors 48. This allows position adjustment of the canopy frame 50.

The upper pivot connectors 27 are respectively sleeved and locked on upper ends of the lower outer tubes 34 by two rivets 62, as shown in Fig. 6. Each of the rivets 62 extends through both the corresponding upper pivot connector 27 and a notch 64 in the corresponding lower outer tube 34 so as to prevent movement of the upper pivot connectors 27 on the lower outer tubes 34.

When it is desired to fold the stroller frame 10, the handle units are moved relative to the remaining part of the stroller frame 10 in a direction (A), as shown in Fig. 2. During folding, the lower outer tubes 34 rotate relative to the pivot fittings 36. This causes each of the rear legs 18 to rotate relative to the corresponding front leg 14 in a plane, on which the corresponding front leg 14 is disposed. Hence, each of the rear legs 18 moves toward a horizontal position, and the rear wheels 22 rotate about - the lower pivot connectors 24 toward the front wheels 16 in a direction (B) . As a result, when the stroller frame 10 is completely folded, as shown in Fig. 3, the distance between the front wheels 16 and the rear wheels 22 does not increase, and instead decrease.

After the stroller frame 10 is completely folded, the upper handle tubes 46 and the canopy frame 50 can be moved from extended positions shown by the phantom lines in Fig. 3 to retracted positions shown by the solid lines in the same drawing. In the retracted positions, the grip members 44 are disposed directly above the front wheels 16, and the canopy frame 50 is disposed between the front wheels 16 and the rear wheels 22. As such, the folded stroller frame 10 is relatively compact. Therefore, the object of this invention can be achieved.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A folding baby stroller frame comprising: two front legs

interconnected so as to allow for movement of the front legs toward and away from each other; two front wheels mounted respectively on lower ends of the front legs; two rear legs interconnected so as to allow for movement of the rear legs toward and away from each other, the rear legs being connected respectively and pivotally to the front legs such that each of the rear legs can rotate relative to a corresponding one of the front legs in a plane, on which the corresponding one of the front legs is disposed; two rear wheels; two rear wheel links connected respectively to the rear wheels, each of the rear wheel links having a lower end connected fixedly to a corresponding one of the rear wheels, and an upper end connected pivotally to a respective one of the rear legs; and two pivoting supports, each of which has a front end connected pivotally to a respective one of the front legs, and a rear end connected pivotally to a respective one of the rear wheel links.
2. The folding baby stroller frame as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising a flexible accessories basket that has two opposite sides, which are fastened respectively to the pivoting supports.
3. The folding baby stroller frame as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising two telescopic handle units, each of which is connected to a respective one of the front legs and a respective one of the rear legs arid includes a lower outer tube and an upper handle tube that is mounted telescopically within an upper end of the lower outer tube, each of the front and rear legs being inclined, each of the lower outer tubes being connected pivotally to upper ends of a corresponding one of the front legs and a corresponding one of the rear legs so as to constitute an inverted Y-shaped structure.
4. The folding baby stroller frame as claimed in Claim 3, further comprising: two lower pivot connectors, each of which connects a respective one of the rear legs pivotally to a respective one of the rear wheel links; a rear X-support including two inclined intersecting leg links that are connected pivotally to each other, the leg links having lower ends connected respectively and pivotally to the lower pivot connectors; and two upper pivot connectors, each of which is connected fixedly to an upper end of a respective one of the lower outer tubes and is connected pivotally to a respective one of the leg links.
5. The folding baby stroller frame as claimed in Claim 4, further comprising two rivets, the upper pivot connectors being sleeved respectively on the lower outer tubes, each of the lower outer tubes being formed with a notch, each of the rivets extending through both a respective one of the upper pivot connectors and the notch in a respective one of the lower outer tubes so as to prevent movement of the upper pivot connectors on the lower outer tubes.
6. The folding baby stroller frame as claimed in Claim 3, further comprising two U-shaped pivot fittings, each of which interconnects a respective one of the lower outer tubes and a respective one of the front legs, each of the U-shaped pivot fittings having a lower portion sleeved fixedly on the upper end of a corresponding one of the front legs, and an upper portion connected pivotally to a corresponding one of the lower outer tubes.
7. The folding baby stroller frame as claimed in Claim 3, further comprising: an inverted U-shaped canopy frame; and two sliding connectors connected respectively and fixedly to two ends of the canopy frame and disposed respectively and movably on the lower outer tubes.
8. The folding baby stroller as claimed in Claim 7, further comprising two elongated canopy mounting connectors disposed respectively and fixedly on the lower outer tubes, each of the canopy mounting connectors being formed with a slide slot extending through along a longitudinal direction thereof, the sliding connectors being disposed respectively and slidably within the slide slots in the canopy mounting connectors such that the canopy frame is disposed between the front wheels and the rear wheels when the stroller frame is completely folded.
9. The folding baby stroller frame as claimed in Claim 7, wherein each of the lower outer tubes is formed with a plurality of holes therethrough, the canopy mounting connectors being sleeved respectively on the lower outer tubes, the canopy mounting connectors being formed with a plurality of integral projections extending respectively into the holes in the lower outer tubes so as to prevent movement of the canopy mounting connectors on the lower outer tubes while allowing for movement of the upper handle tubes withih the lower outer tubes.
1O.A folding baby stroller frame comprising: two front legs interconnected so as to allow for movement of the front legs toward and away from each other; two front wheels mounted respectively on lower ends of the front legs; two rear legs interconnected so as to allow for movement of the rear legs toward and away from each other, the rear legs being connected respectively and pivotally to the front legs such that each of the rear legs can rotate relative to a corresponding one of the front legs in a plane, on which the corresponding one of the front legs is disposed; two rear wheels connected respectively to the rear legs; and two telescopic handle units, each of which is connected to a respective one of the front legs and a respective one of the rear legs.
11.The folding baby stroller as claimed in Claim 10, wherein each of the telescopic handle units includes a lower outer tube and an upper handle tube that is mounted telescopically within an upper end of the lower outer tube.
12.The folding baby stroller as claimed in Claim 11, wherein each of the front and rear legs is inclined, each of the lower outer tubes is connected pivotally to upper ends of a corresponding one'of the front legs and a corresponding one of the rear legs so as to constitute an inverted Y-shaped structure.
13. The folding baby stroller frame as claimed in Claim 11, further comprising: an inverted U-shaped canopy frame; and two sliding connectors connected respectively and fixedly to two ends of the canopy frame and disposed respectively and movably on the lower outer tubes.
14. The folding baby stroller as claimed in Claim 12, further comprising two elongated canopy mounting connectors disposed respectively and fixedly on the lower outer tubes, each of the canopy mounting connectors being formed with a slide slot extending through along a longitudinal direction thereof, the sliding connectors being disposed respectively and slidably within the slide slots in the canopy mounting connectors such that the canopy frame is disposed between the front wheels and the rear wheels when the stroller frame is completely folded.
15. The folding baby stroller frame as claimed in Claim 11, wherein each of the lower outer tubes is formed with a plurality of holes therethrough, the canopy mounting connectors being sleeved respectively on the lower outer tubes, the canopy mounting connectors being formed with a plurality of integral projections extending respectively into the holes in the lower outer tubes so as to prevent movement of the canopy mounting connectors on the lower outea tubes while allowing for movement of the upper handle tubes within the lower outer tubes.

l6.A folding baby stroller frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.