GB2449892A

GB2449892A - A foldable stroller with a lockable pivot mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2449892A
Application number: GB0710887A
Authority: GB
Inventors: An-Shih Wang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-06-07
Filing date: 2007-06-07
Publication date: 2008-12-10
Also published as: GB0710887D0

Abstract

A stroller includes a front frame 11, a rear frame 12 and a handle 13. Two first pivot mechanisms 3 connect the front frame, the rear frame and the handle, and each first pivot mechanism includes a middle disk (31, figure 2) connected to the rear frame, a first disk (32) connected to the handle, a second disk (33) connected to the front frame, and a third disk (34) which is connected to one of two supports 22, and a loop frame 21 of a seat frame is pivotably connected to the two supports. The first disk together with the handle, the second disk together with the front frame and the third disk together with the seat frame are pivotable relative to the middle disk (see figures 13 to 15). Also disclosed is a pivot mechanism 4 (see figures 7 to 11) which allows the angle of the seat frame to be altered, and a releasable front wheel fastening 5 which allows single or double (figure 20) front wheels to be attached.

Description

FOLDING MECHANSIM FOR BABY STROLLERS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a folding mechanism for a baby stroller and the mechanism includes less number of parts and is easily to operate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional folding baby stroller generally includes a main frame and a seat frame and a handle, the main frame includes a front frame with front wheels and a rear frame with rear wheels. The front frame, the rear frame and the handle usually includes pivotable members which allow the user to fold the frames to reduce the space occupied when the baby stroller is not used. However, the pivotable members are complicated and include multiple parts so that the folding actions are not convenient for the users. Besides, the parts interact to each other when folding and wearing between the parts is severe so that the parts need a lot of work of maintenance. Furthermore, in order to pivot the pivotable members, some of the parts have to be made as thin as possible and the thin parts obviously have less structural structure. The seat frame for conventional baby strollers cannot be foldable and occupies a huge space. The front frame is integrally connected to the main frame and the whole set of front frame has to be replaced if the user wants to change the number of the front wheel(s).

The present invention intends to provide a folding mechanism for baby strollers wherein the main frame including the front frame, the rear frame, and the seat frame can be folded.

SIJMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a stroller that comprises a main frame including a front frame, a rear frame and a handle. The front frame, the rear frame and the handle are connected with each other by two first pivot mechanisms. Each of the first pivot mechanism includes a middle disk connected to the rear frame, a first disk connected to the handle, a second disk connected to the front frame and a third disk connected to two supports. A loop frame is pivotably connected to the two supports of a seat frame. The first disk, the second disk and the third disk are pivotably connected to the middle disk. The handle has a first engaging member received therein so that the handle is pivotably set relative to the middle disk. The supports each have a second engaging member received therein so that the seat frame is pivotably set relative to the middle disk.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for 1 5 purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. I shows the main frame of the baby stroller of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded view to show the first pivot mechanism of the baby stroller of the present invention; ) Fig. 3 is an exploded view to show the first disk and the handle of the baby stroller of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a perspective view to show the first pivot mechanism of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the first disk and the handle; Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of the third disk and the support of the baby stroller of the present invention; Fig. 7 is an exploded view to show the second pivot mechanism of the baby stroller of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a perspective view to show the second pivot mechanism of the present invention; Fig. 9 shows the pawl is engaged with the notch in the second part of the second pivot mechanism; Fig. 10 shows the pawl is disengaged from the notch in the second part of the second pivot mechanism; F'ig. 11 shows the seat frame is pivoted an angle; Fig. 12 shows that the seat frame is pivoted; Fig. 13 shows that the handle is pivoted; Fig. 14 shows that the seat frame is pivoted forward; Fig. 15 shows the rear wheel is pivoted forward; ) Fig. 16 is a perspective view to show the connection member on the front frame; Fig. 1 7 is an exploded view to show the connection member on the front frame; Fig. 18 shows that the connection member is disconnected from the front frame; Fig. 19 shows that the connection member is connected to the front frame, and Fig. 20 shows two front wheels are connected to the front frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to Figs. I to 6, the stroller comprises a main frame I including a front frame 11, a rear frame 12 and a handle 13, the front frame 11, and the rear frame 12 and the handle 13 connected with each other by two first pivot mechanisms 3 on two sides of the stroller. Each first pivot mechanism 3 includes a middle disk 31, a first disk, a second disk 33 and a third disk 34. The middle disk 31 includes an extension 311 connected to the rear frame 12, the first disk 32 includes an extension 321 connected to the handle 13, the second disk 33 includes an extension 331 connected to the front frame 11. and the third disk 34 includes an extension 341 connected to one of two supports 22. A loop frame 21 is pivotably connected to the two supports 22 of a seat frame 2. The first disk 32, the second disk 33 and the third disk 34 are pivotably connected to the middle disk 31 so that the stroller can be folded. Two covers 35 are respectively mounted to the first disk 32 and the third disk 34 and two bolts 36 extend ) through the covers 35 and connect the first disk 32, the middle disk 31, the second disk 33 and the third disk 34.

The middle disk 31 includes a first tube 312 and a second tube 313 extending from two opposite sides thereof. A first stop 3 14 is located on the first tube 3 12 and close to the middle disk 3 1 and a second stop 3 1 5 is located on the second tube 3 13 and close to the middle disk 31. The first disk 32 is mounted to the first tube 3 12 and stopped by the first stop 314 and the second disk 33 is mounted to the second tube 313 and stopped by the second stop 315. The first tube 312 includes a first port 316 and the second tube 313 includes a second port 31 7. The first disk 32 includes a first sliding slot 1 0 322 defined radially therein which is moved to be corresponding to the first port 316 when the first disk 32 is pivoted relative to the middle disk 3 1. An axial protrusion 323 extends from the first disk 32 and is stopped by the first stop 314 when the first disk 32 is pivoted relative to the middle disk 31. A first engaging member 324 and a first spring 325 are received in the first sliding slot 322 and the first engaging member 324 is pushed by the first spring 325 and inserted into the first port 316. A first end of a first link 326 is connected to an end of the first engaging member 324 and a second end of the first link 326 extends through the first spring 325 and inserted into the handle 13. A sliding unit 327 in the handle 13 is connected to the second end of the first link 326. A movement of the sliding unit 327 controls that the first engaging member 324 is disengaged from or inserted into the first port 316. )

A first axial block 332 extends from a side of the second disk 33 and faces the middle disk 31. The first axial block 332 is stopped by the second stop 315 on the middle disk 31 when the second disk 33 is pivoted relative to the middle disk 31.

The third disk 34 is mounted on the second tube 313 and includes a second sliding slot 342 and a third axial block 343 extends axially from the third disk 34. The second sliding slot 342 is moved to be corresponding to the second port 317 and the third axial block 343 is stopped by the second axial block 333 when the third disk 34 is pivotable relative to the middle disk 31. A second engaging member 344 and a second spring 345 are received in the second sliding slot 342. A first end of a second link 346 is connected to an end of the second engaging member 344 and a second end of the second link 346 extends through the second spring 345 and inserted into the support 22.

A first movable member 347 in the support 22 is connected to the second end of the second link 346. The first movable member 347 is fixed to a sleeve 348 mounted on the support 22 so that the first movable member 347 is moved when the sleeve 348 is moved, a movement of the first movable member 347 controls that the first movable member 347 pulls the second engaging member 344 from the second port 317 or pushes the second engaging member 344 into the second port 317. By this way, the third disk 34 is pivotable or set relative to the middle disk 31.

A second axial block 333 extends from the other side of the second disk 33 and faces the third disk 34. The second axial block 333 is removably engaged with the third disk 34. )

Referring to Figs. 7 to 11, the loop frame 21 is connected to the two supports 22 by two respective second pivot mechanisms 4 and each second pivot mechanism 4 includes a first part 41 and a second part 42. The first part 41 includes two extensions 41.1 which are respectively connected with two U-shaped halves of the loop frame 2L The first part 41 is connected to a mediate portion of the loop frame 21 and the second part 42 is connected to a top of the support 22. A paw] 412 and a third spring 414 are received in the first part 41 and the second part 42 includes a plurality of notches 422 defined in an inner periphery thereof. The pawl 412 is removably engaged with one of the notches 422. A second movable member 415 is movably received in a space in one of the extensions 411 and a third link 413 are connected between the paw! 412 and the second movable member 415. A sleeve 416 is movably mounted to one of the extensions 411 and the second movable member 415 is connected to the sleeve 416 by a pin so that when pulling the sleeve 416, the pawl 412 is moved to engage the notches 422 or to disengage from the notches 422. Therefore, the loop frame 21 can be pivoted and set its position relative to the supports 22 as shown in Figs. 9-1 1.

Figs. 12 to 15 show the folding processes of the stroller, wherein the paw] 412 in the first part 41 is first disengaged from the notches 422 of the second part 42, so that the first part 41 and the second part 42 are pivoted to each other so as to fold the loop frame 2 1 to be the status as shown in Fig. 12.

As shown in Fig. 13, the sliding unit 327 of the handle 13 is then pulled to move the first engaging member 324 in the first disk 32 from the first port 316 in the ) middle disk 31, so that the handle 13 is pivoted toward the front frame 11 as shown in Fig. 14. The sleeve 348 is then pulled to remove the second engaging member 344 from the second port 317 of the middle disk 3] so that the seat frame 2 including the loop frame 2 1 and the supports 22 is pivoted toward the front frame 11.

As shown in Fig. 1 5, the rear frame 1 2 is then pivoted toward the front frame 11 to completely fold the stroller.

Referring to Figs. 16-19, the front frame II is connected to a front wheel unit which includes connection unit 5 and a front wheel frame 6, wherein the Connection unit 5 includes a cover 51 with a through hole 511, a base 52 located beneath the cover 51 and includes a reception hole 521 which is located corresponding to the through hole 511. A pin 53 is inserted between the reception hole 521 and the through hole 511. The pin 53 includes concave bottom and a tapered flange 531. A resilient member 532 has one end engaged with the concave bottom and the other end of the resilient member 532 is rested on an inside of the reception hole 521. The resilient member 532 pushes the pin 53 upward so that a top of the pin 53 protrudes from the through hole 511. A collar 54 is fixedly to the base 52 by a locking member 55 and includes a first ring 54 1 with a first hoJe 543 and a second ring 542 with a second hole 544. The first hole 543 and the second hole 544 are located corresponding to the reception hole 521 and the central hole 522 of the base 52 respectively.

As shown in Fig. 18, a protrusion 611 extends from a body 61 of the front wheel frame 6 and includes a narrow neck 612. The protrusion 611 extends through the ) central hole 522 and the second ring 542 is mounted to the narrow neck 612. The front wheel 62 can be a single wheel as shown in Figs. 1 6, 18, or two wheels as shown in Fig. 20.

As shown in Fig. 19, the pin 53 extends through the first hole 543 and the tapered flange 531 is located above the first ring 541. The top of the pin 53 extends from the through hole 511 of the cover 51 by the resilient member 532. The protrusion 611 of the body 61 extends through the central hole 522 and the second hole 544. The second ring 542 is mounted to the narrow neck 612 of the protrusion 611 so as to connect the front wheel frame 6 to the connection unit 5.

When the user wants to change the front wheels 62, the pin 53 is pushed downward and the tapered flange 531 pushes the first ring 541 to expand and the second ring 542 is also expanded and disengaged from the narrow neck 612 so that the front wheel frame 6 can be disengaged from the base 52 as shown in Fig. 18. The new front wheels 62 are then set by inserting the protrusion 611 through the central hole 522 and the second hole 544 till the second ring 542 is engaged with the narrow neck 612 again.

The size of the first ring 541 changes by the width of the pin 53 when the pin 53 is moved by the resilient member 532 so that the second ring 542 clamps or loosens the protrusion 611 of the front wheel frame 6. The resilient member 532 is an optional part which can also be omitted and the same function can also be maintained by the ) tension of the second ring 542 and the movement of the pin 53 with the tapered flange 531.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A stroller comprising: a main frame (1)

including a front frame (11), a rear frame (12) and a handle (13), the front frame (11), the rear frame (12) and the handle (13) connected with each other by two respective first pivot mechanisms (3), each first pivot mechanism (3) including a middle disk (31), a first disk (32), a second disk (33) and a third disk (34), the middle disk (31) connected to the rear frame (12), the first disk (32) connected to the handle (13) and the second disk connected to the front frame (11), the third disk (34) connected to one of two supports (22) and a loop frame (21) pivotably connected to the two supports (22) of a seat frame (2), the first disk (32), the second disk (33) and the third disk (34) being pivotably connected to the middle disk (31), the handle (13) having a first engaging member (324) received therein so that the handle (13) is pivotably set relative to the middle disk (31), the supports (22) each having a second engaging member (344) received therein so that the seat frame (2) is pivotably set relative to the middle disk (31).
2. The stroller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the middle disk (31) includes a first tube (312) and a second tube (313) extending from two opposite sides thereof, a first stop (314) located on the first tube (312) and close to the middle disk (31) and a second stop (315) located on the second tube (313) and close to the middle disk (31), the first disk (32) is mounted to the first tube (312) and stopped by the first stop (314) and the second disk (33) is mounted to the second tube (313) and stopped by the second ) stop (315), the first tube (312) includes a first port (316) and the second tube (313) includes a second port (317), the first disk (32) includes a first sliding slot (322) defined radially therein which is moved to be corresponding to the first port (31 6) when the first disk (32) is pivoted relative to the middle disk (31), an axial protrusion (323) extends from the first disk (32) and is stopped by the first stop (314) when the first disk (32) is pivoted relative to the middle disk (31), the first engaging member (324) and a first spring (325) are received in the first sliding slot (322) and the first engaging member (324) is pushed by the first spring (325) and inserted into the first port (316), a first axial block (332) extends from a side of the second disk (33) and faces the middle disk (31), the first axial block (332) is stopped by the second stop (315) on the middle disk (31) when the second disk (33) is pivoted relative to the middle disk (31), a second axial block (333) extends from the other side of the second disk (33) and faces the third disk (34), the second axial block (333) is removably engaged with the third disk (34), the third disk (34) is mounted on the second tube (313) and includes a second sliding slot (342) and a third axial block (343) extends axially from the third disk (34), the second sliding slot (342) is moved to be corresponding to the second port (317) and the third axial block (343) is stopped by the second axial block (333) when the third disk (34) is pivotable relative to the middle disk (31), the second engaging member (344) and a second spring (345) are received in the second sliding slot (342), the second engaging member (344) is pushed by the second spring (345) and inserted into the second port (317) to set the third disk (34) relative to the middle disk (31). 1)
3. The stroller as claimed in claim 2, wherein a first end of a first link (326) is connected to an end of the first engaging member (324) and a second end of the first link (326) extends through the first spring (325) and inserted into the handle (13), a sliding unit (327) in the handle (13) is connected to the second end of the first link (326), a movement of the sliding unit (327) pulls the first engaging member (324) from the first port (316).
4. The stroller as daimed in claim,wherein a first end of a second link (346) is connected to an end of the second engaging member (344) and a second end of the second link (346) extends through the second spring (345) and inserted into the support 1 0 (22). a first movable member (347) in the support (22) is connected to the second end of the second link (346), the first movable member (347) is fixed to a sleeve (348) mounted on the support (22) so that the first movable member (347) is moved when the sleeve (348) is moved, a movement of the first movable member (347) pulls the second engaging member (344) from the second port (31 7).
5. The stroller as claimed in claim 1. wherein the loop frame (2 1) is connected to the two supports (22) by two respective second pivot mechanisms (4) and each second pivot mechanism (4) includes a first part (41) and a second part (42), the first part (4]) is coimected to a mediate portion of the loop frame (21) and the second part (42) is connected to a top of the support (22), a paw! (412) and a third spring (414) are received in the first part (41) and the second part (42) includes a plurality of notches (422), the paw! (412) is removably engaged with one of the notches (422). )
6. The stroller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front frame (11) is connected to a front wheel unit which includes a base (52) connected to a front end of the front frame (11) and a front wheel frame (6) connected to the base (52), the base (52) includes a reception hole (521) in which a pin (53) is inserted, the pin (53) includes a tapered flange (531) and a resilient member (532) biases the pin (53), the base (52) includes a collar (54) which includes a first ring (541) with a first hole (543) and a second ring (542) with a second hole (544), a protrusion (611) extends from a body (61) of the front wheel frame (6) and includes a narrow neck (612), the second ring (542) mounted to the narrow neck (612) to be connected to the protrusion (511), the pin (53) extends through the first hole (543), a size of the first ring (541) changes by the width of the pin (53) when the pin (53) is moved by the resilient member (532) and the second ring (542) clamps or loosens the protrusion (611) of the front wheel frame (6).
7. The stroller as claimed in claim 6, wherein a cover (51) is mounted to the base (52) and includes a through hole (511) which is located corresponding to the reception hole (52 1) of the base (52), the cover (51) and the base (52) are connected to each other to form a connection unit (5).
8. The stroller as claimed in claim 6, wherein the resilient member (532) is rested on an inside of the reception hole (521) so as to push the pin (53) upward.