GB2445806A

GB2445806A - Locking pivot for baby stroller comprising blocking member

Info

Publication number: GB2445806A
Application number: GB0707859A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shun-Min Chen; Ze-Hua Yi
Original assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co Ltd Taiwan
Current assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co Ltd Taiwan
Priority date: 2007-01-18
Filing date: 2007-04-24
Publication date: 2008-07-23
Anticipated expiration: 2027-04-24
Also published as: GB2445806B; CN201016003Y; GB0707859D0

Abstract

A safety locking device for a baby stroller includes: a first pivot mount 10 having a first groove 11 in which a first pivot hole 110 is disposed; a blocking member 31 having a boss 310, and a through hole 312 passing through the blocking member 31 and the boss 310; and a second pivot mount 20 having a second groove 21. The second pivot mount 20 passes through the second pivot hole 22, the through hole of the blocking member, and the first pivot hole of the first pivot mount via a pivot shaft 40. The blocking member 31 uses an elastic element 32 that has one end abutted against a peripheral part of the second pivot mount 20. The blocking member 31 may be pressed to allow the boss 310 to separate from a restraining element 12 of the first pivot mount 10 and unlock the device. The blocking member 31 may be formed with bulging portions 311.

Description

SAFETY LOCKING DEVICE FOR BABY STROLLER

BACKGROUND OF THE iNVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[00011 The present invention is generally related to a safety locking device for a baby stroller, and in particular to a safety locking device used for the prevention of accidents in the baby stroller in case of unexpected dangerous actuating of the folding mechanism.

2. The Prior Arts

[0002J A traditional baby stroller usually includes a folding mechanism used for folding the baby stroller to a smaller dimension. Some baby strollers further comprise of a safety locking device to prevent accidents caused by the dangerous unexpected touching for actuating the folding mechanism. Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 577,298 discloses a design for avoiding the unexpected folding of the baby stroller. Yet this type of design has a complicated structure and is difficult to operate. U.S. Patent No. 6,478,328 also discloses a locking device with safely mechanism for collapsible stroller; however, the locking device with safety mechanism of the aforementioned invention is configured on the gripping portion of the handle in case of danger caused by the unexpected operation of the handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

3] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a safety locking device for a baby stroller for overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the existing safety locking devices for traditional baby strollers.

4] The safety locking device for the baby stroller of the present invention is used as a protection after the folding mechanism is actuated for preventing accidents caused by danger from the unexpected actuation of the folding mechanism. In addition, the safety locking device can be arranged at the connecting joint of the baby stroller.

100051 Based on the above goal, the safety locking device for the baby stroller of the present invention comprises a first pivot mount having a first groove in which a first pivot hole and a restraining element is arranged; a blocking member having an elastic element inserted at one end and disposed inside the first pivot hole of the first pivot mount; the blocking member having a boss, at least one bulging portion, a through hole extending through the blocking member and the boss, and a second pivot mount having a second groove in which a second pivot hole is formed and is covered onto the blocking member.

The second pivot mount passes through the second pivot hole, the through hole of the blocking member, and the first pivot hole of the first pivot mount via a pivot shaft, and the second pivot mount is then pivotally coupled to the first pivot mount. When the first pivot mount and the second pivot mounts are covered and pivotally coupled to the blocking member, the blocking member is to make the restraining element of the first pivot mount engaged to the boss by means of the elastic spring force of the elastic element, thereby fixing a relative positioning of the first and the second pivot mounts. When the blocking member is pressed down for allowing the boss to separate from the restraining element of the first pivot mount, the unlocking operation of the first and second pivot mounts is achieved, whereby the frame and the first pivot mount could rotate relatively to each other to fold the baby stroller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

100061 The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 100071 FIG 1 is a schematic view showing the location of a safety locking device on a baby stroller in accordance with the present invention; [0008] FIG 2 is a perspective exploded view showing a safety locking device for the baby stroller in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 10009] FIG 3 is a perspective assembled view showing the safety locking device for the baby stroller in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 100101 FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view as viewed from the left side showing the locking status of the safety locking device for the baby stroller of the first embodiment; 100111 FIG 4B is a front cross-sectional view showing the locking status of the safety locking device for the baby stroller of the first embodiment; [0012] FIG 4C is a cross-sectional view as viewed from the right side showing the locking status of the safety locking device for the baby stroller of the first embodiment; 10013] FIG 5A is a cross-sectional view as viewed from the left side showing an unlocking status of the safety locking device for the baby stroller of the first embodiment; 100141 FIG 5B is a front cross-sectional view showing the unlocking status of the safety locking device for the baby stroller of the first embodiment; 100151 FIG 5C is a cross-sectional view as viewed from the right side showing the unlocking status of the safety locking device for the baby stroller of the first embodiment; 100161 FIG 6 is a perspective exploded view showing a safety locking device for the baby stroller in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; (00171 FIG 7 is a perspective assembly view showing the safety locking device for the baby stroller in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention; 100181 FIG 8A is a cross-sectional view as viewed from the left side showing the locking status of the safety locking device for the baby stroller of the second embodiment; 100191 FIG 8B is a front cross-sectional view showing the locking status of the safety locking device for the baby stroller of the second embodiment; 100201 FIG 8C is a cross-sectional view as viewed from the right side showing the locking status of the safety locking device for the baby stroller of the second embodiment; 100211 FIG 9A is a cross-sectional view as viewed from the left side showing the unlocking status of the safety locking device for the baby stroller of the second embodiment: [00221 FIG 9B is a front cross-sectional view showing the unlocking status of the safety locking device for the baby stroller of the second embodiment; and 100231 FIG 9C is a cross-sectional view as viewed from the right side showing the unlocking status of the safety locking device for the baby stroller of the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

4] FIG 1 is a schematic view showing a safety locking device of the present invention disposed on a frame of a baby stroller. The baby stroller frame, as illustrated in FIG 1, comprises a front leg F and a rear leg R. A safety locking device I of the present invention is disposed on the connection joint of the front leg F and the rear leg R. [0025] Referring to FIGs. 2 and 3, the safety locking device I for the baby stroller of a first embodiment comprises a first pivot mount 10, a second pivot mount 20, a blocking member 31, and an elastic element 32. The first pivot mount 10 is mounted on the front leg F of the baby stroller frame. The first pivot mount 10 has a side surface formed with a first groove 11 and a restraining element 12 that is disposed on the side surface of the first pivot mount 10 and extended to the first groove 11. Referring to FiG 2, the base surface defines the bottom of the first groove 11 includes a first pivot hole 110. The restraining element 12 can be made from a plurality of rib structures, which together making the first groove 11 to form an U-shape in this embodiment.

[00261 The second pivot mount 20 is used for connecting to the rear leg R of the baby stroller frame. A side surface of the second pivot mount 20 is formed with a second groove 21 for receiving the blocking member 31 for sliding within. Referring to FIG 4B, the side surface of the second pivot mount 20 includes a base surface defining a bottom of the second groove 21 and the peripheral part of the second groove 21 connected to the base surface of the second pivot mount 20 defining a side wail of the second groove 21. The peripheral part of the second groove 21 has an opening 215 and a closed end 220 opposite to the opening 215. The second pivot mount 20 is further formed with a second pivot hole 22 on the base surface of the second groove 21 and the guiding members which are near the opening extending from the peripheral part.

100271 The first embodiment of the blocking member 31 is integral, and comprises an operating portion 316 and a positioning post 318 arranged at the opposite ends of the IS blocking member 31, respectively. A boss 310 is horizontally extended from a side surface of the operating portion 316 and is formed a cylindrical shape in this embodiment; and an elongated through hole 312 is formed on the operating portion 316 passing through the center of the boss 310. A set of two bulging portions 311 are formed on two opposite sides of the operating portion 316, and the through hole 312 is used for acting as the center of the operating portion 316. The external diameter of the boss 310 is slightly smaller than the width of the first groove 11.

[00281 A preferred embodiment of the elastic element 32 is a compression spring, in which one end of the spring is coupled to the positioning post 318, and the boss 310 is then disposed inside the first groove 11 of the first pivot mount 10. Later, the second groove 21 of the second pivot mount 20 is covered around the blocking member 31, and a pivot shaft (such as a rivet) is passed through the first pivot hole 110 of the first pivot mount 10, the through hole 312 of the blocking member 31 and the second pivot hole 22 of the second pivot mount 20 for completing the pivotally coupling together. As a result, the blocking member 31 is positioned between the first pivot mount 10 and the second pivot mount 20, and is moved within the second pivot mount 20 between a locking position and an unlocking position. The operating portion 316 of the blocking member 31 is partly protruded from the opening 215 of the peripheral part of the second groove 21, and the two sides of the operating portion 316 of the blocking member 31 can be guided by the guiding members while it is sliding in it. The bulging portion 311 of the blocking member 31 is abutted against the guiding members for preventing the blocking member 31 to remove from the second pivot mount 20. The other end of the aforementioned elastic element 32 is abutted against the closed end 220 of the peripheral part of the second pivot mount 20.

And using the spring force of the elastic element 32 at the blocking member 31 under a natural condition without any outside interference, the boss 310 is allowed to maintain occupancy inside the first groove 11. The blocking member 31 is biased to the locking position by the elastic element 32.

(0029] When the baby stroller is in an unfolded state during use, the front and rear legs F, R are pivotally coupled together by the first pivot mount 10 and the second pivot mount 20; and the far ends of the front and rear leg F, R are spaced mutually apart (shown in FIG I). Here, the boss 310 is moved into the first groove 11 of the first pivot mount 10 by the elastic element 32 acting onto the blocking member 31 while the blocking member 31 is in the locking position (shown in FIGs. 4A-4C), thereby the center of the boss 310 is eccentric to the first and the second pivot holes 110, 22. And at this time, the corresponding two sides of the blocking member 31 are blocked by the restraining element 12 of the first pivot mount 10, thereby making the blocking member 31 engaged and fixed to the first and the second grooves 11, 21. At this stage, even if the folding mechanism of the baby stroller is accidentally acutated, this safety device is able to avoid the front and rear legs F, R pivoting to each other as well as preventing the first pivot mount 10 and the second pivot mount 20 from pivotally rotating, thus preventing accidents resulted from the dangerous act.

(0030] FIGs. 5A-5C show the mode of operation of the first embodiment of the present invention. When the baby stroller is to be folded, the user only need to press the operating portion 316 of the blocking member 31 to allow the blocking member 31 to move from the locking position to the unlocking position1 the boss 310 is moved to the U-shaped opening of the first groove 11 until the center of the boss 310 is concentric with respect to the first and the second pivot holes 110, 22. Here, both sides of the blocking member 31 would not be blocked by the restraining clement 12, and the elastic element 32 is compressed.

Therefore, when the user is to operate the folding mechanism, the first and the second pivot mounts 10, 20 would rotate relative to each other, whereby the front and rear legs F, R would be pivotal closed to each other and the baby stroller is moved to a folded state.

[0031) FIGs. 6 and 7 shows the structure of a second embodiment of the present invention. The only difference between the first embodiment and the second embodiment is pertaining to the stiucture of the blocking member 31; whereas, the structure of the first and the second pivot mounts is the same as that of the first embodiment. The blocking member 31 of the second embodiment comprises a blocking body 30 and a button 33, which are not integrally formed. The blocking body 30 includes a retaining slot 314 and the positioning post 318, which are arranged at the two opposite ends. One side of the blocking body 30 is formed with the fixing hole 313, which is spatial communicated with the retaining slot 314; and a cylindrical boss 310 is horizontal extended from the side surface. And the blocking body 30 is formed with a elongated through hole 312, which is passed through the center of the boss 310. Both corresponding sides of the blocking body 30, using the through hole 312 as their center, are disposed with the bulging portions 311. The lower part of the button 33 is formed with a retaining portion 331 corresponding to the retaining slot 314, and the side of the retaining portion 331 is formed with a fixing hole 330. When the retaining portion 331 of the button 33 is inserted into the retaining slot 314 of the blocking body 30, the two fixing holes 313, 330 would then be directly aligned. Here, a fixing pin 34 is passed through the fixing holes 313, 330, thereby making the button 33 securely attached to the blocking body 30. The method of assembly of the blocking member, and the first and second pivot mounts of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and is illustrated in FIGs. 8A-8C and 9A-9C.

[00321 Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A safety locking device for a baby stroller,

comprising: a first pivot mount, having a first groove, the base surface of the first pivot mount defming the bottom of the first groove formed with a first pivot hole; a second pivot mount, having a second groove, the base surface of the second pivot mount defining the bottom of the second groove and the peripheral part of the second groove connected to the base surface of the second pivot mount defining a side wall of the second groove, and the base surface is formed with a second pivot hole; a blocking member, arranged in the second groove of the second pivot mount, and having a boss extending into the first groove and an elongated through hole passing through the boss; an elastic element includes an other end that is abutted against the peripheral part of the second pivot mount; and a pivot shall, passing through the second pivot hole, the through hole, and the first pivot hole for pivotally coupling together the first pivot mount, the second pivot mount, and the blocking member, thereby the blocking member is operably slid within the second groove, and the boss is moved inside the first groove.
2. The safety locking device for the baby stroller as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the two opposite sides of the blocking member are formed with a plurality of bulging portions.
3. The safety locking device for the baby stroller as claimed in Claim 1, wherein one end of the blocking member is formed with an operating portion, and the other end is formed with a positioning post for coupling to the elastic element.
4. The safety locking device for the baby stroller as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the elastic element is a compression spring.
5. The safety locking device for the baby stroller as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the peripheral part of the second groove has an opening and a closed end opposite to the opening, the elastic element is abutted against the closed end, and the operating portion of the blocking member is protruded out of the opening.
6. The safety locking device for the baby stroller as claimed in Claim I, wherein the boss is cylindrical, and the first pivot mount includes a plurality of ribs to form the first groove in an U-shape, for allowing the boss to move inside the first groove.
7. The safety locking device for the baby stroller as claimed in Claim I, wherein the blocking member comprises a blocking body having one end formed with a retaining slot, and a button formed with a retaining portion corresponding to the retaining slot, and the retaining portion is inserted into the retaining slot to securely attach to the blocking body.
8. A baby stroller convertible between an unfolded state and a folded state, comprising: a front leg and a rear leg, pivotally coupled to each other, a first pivot mount, connected to the front leg, and having a first groove; a second pivot mount connected to the rear leg, and pivotally coupled to the first pivot mount and is pivoted relative to the first pivot mount about a pivot axis, the second pivot mount having a second groove corresponded to the first groove; and a blocking member, mounted in the second groove of the second pivot mount, and having a boss horizontally extending into the first groove of the first pivot mount to pivotally couple to the first pivot mount; wherein the blocking member is moved within the second groove between a locking position where the pivot axis and the boss are eccentric, and the front and the rear legs are spaced apart to each other to maintain the baby stroller in the unfolded state; and an unlocking position where the pivot axis and the boss are concentric, and the front and the rear legs are able to rotate relative to each other to move the baby stroller to the folded status.
9. The baby stroller as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the boss is cylindrical, and the first pivot mount includes a plurality of ribs to form an U-shape for allowing the boss to move inside the first groove.
10. The baby stroller as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the frame comprises an elastic element arranged in the second groove for biasing the blocking member to the locking position.
11. The baby stroller as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the first pivot mount has a restraining element, the blocking member is blocked by the restraining element to prevent the first pivot mount and the second pivot mount from pivotally rotating while the blocking member is in the locking position.
12. A safety locking device for a baby stroller, comprising: a first pivot mount having a first groove formed with a first pivot hole; a second pivot mount having a second groove formed with a second pivot hole disposed at the base surface of the second groove; a blocking member, arranged in the second groove of the second pivot mount, and the side of the blocking member having a boss horizontally extending out to the first groove of the first pivot mount and an elongated through hole passing through the boss; and a pivot shaft, passed through the first pivot hole, the through hole, and the second pivot hole for pivotally coupling together the first pivot mount, the second pivot mount, and the blocking member; and thereby, the blocking member is moving between a first position and a second position for making the center of the boss to be eccentric or concentric with respect to the pivot shaft.
13. The safety locking device for the baby stroller as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the corresponding sides of the blocking member are disposed with a plurality of bulging portions.
14. The safety locking device for the baby stroller as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the first groove is using a plurality of ribs at one side of the first pivot mount to form an U-shape.
15. The safety locking device for the baby stroller as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the blocking member comprises a blocking body having one end formed with a retaining slot, and a button formed with a retaining portion corresponding to the retaining slot, and the retaining portion is inserted into the retaining slot for making the button and the blocking body securely attached.
16. A safety locking device for a baby stroller constructed and arranged substantially as described in relation to Figs.2-SC, or Figs. 6-9C, of the accompanying drawings.