GB2479247A

GB2479247A - Infant carrier apparatus having an adjustable backrest

Info

Publication number: GB2479247A
Application number: GB1105013A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Xiang Yong Zeng
Original assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co Ltd Hong Kong
Current assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co Ltd Hong Kong
Priority date: 2010-04-01
Filing date: 2011-03-24
Publication date: 2011-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 2031-03-24
Also published as: CN102211609B; GB201105013D0; JP5258918B2; GB2479247B; CN102211609A; JP2011213340A

Abstract

An infant carrier apparatus 100, such as a stroller or pushchair, comprises a support frame 2, a seat assembly 6 having a seating member 62, a backrest assembly 4 including a tube segment 42 having a latch portion 422 and operable to rotate relative to the seat assembly, and a backrest holder base 8 adapted to engage with the latch portion to hold the backrest assembly at a desired position, wherein the backrest assembly is adjustable to a position lying substantially parallel to the seating member to define a horizontally collapsed configuration of use (figures 6, 8). The backrest holder base may comprise a semi-circular housing (82, figure 2) having an inner cavity (84) and a plurality of locking grooves (822) into which the latch portion may be spring biased so that the backrest may be held in a number of positions. The backrest may be adjusted so that a child occupying the seat may face forwards or backwards in both sitting and lying down positions.

Description

INFANT CARRIER APPARATUS HAVING MULTIPLE

CONFIGURATIONS OF USE

S

[0001] This application claims priority to China patent application no. 201010138751.1 filed on April 1, 2010.

[0002] The present invention relates to an infant carrier apparatus, and more particularly to an infant carrier apparatus having multiple configurations of use.

[0003] A stroller apparatus typically comprises a support frame provided with wheels, a seat assembly and a handle. After a child is placed on the seat, the parent can use the handle to push the stroller in movement. In traditional strollers, the seat assembly is usually oriented toward the front of the stroller in its direction of displacement. Because the child does not face the parent when seated in the stroller, no interaction is permitted between the child and the parent.

[0004] To remedy the aforementioned deficiency, some current approaches propose a stroller structure that is provided with a backrest adjustable back and forth.

In this manner, the child can be seated facing either rearward or forward opposite to the parent. While multiple seating configurations are permitted, the backrest adjustment mechanism of these strollers is usually complex in construction and operation, and increases the manufacture cost.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for an infant carrier apparatus that can have multiple configurations of use and address at least the foregoing issues.

[0006] The present application describes an infant carrier apparatus that has multiple configurations of use, and can be easily and conveniently operated to change the orientation of the backrest.

[0007] Viewed from one aspect, in one embodiment, the infant carrier apparatus of the present invention comprises a support frame, a seat assembly having a seating member, a backrest assembly including a tube segment having a latch portion and operable to rotate relative to the seat assembly, and a backrest holder base adapted to engage with the latch portion to hold the backrest assembly at a desired position, wherein the backrest assembly is adjustable to a position lying substantially parallel to the seating member to define a horizontally collapsed configuration of use.

[00081 Viewed from another aspect, the invention provides an infant carrier apparatus comprising: a support frame; a seat assembly; a backrest assembly, including a latch portion and operable to rotate relative to the seat assembly; and a backrest holder base, including a hollow housing in which are provided a plurality of locking grooves, adapted to engage with the latch portion to hold the backrest assembly at a desired position, wherein the latch portion is operable to travel into the housing to engage with any of the locking grooves to hold the backrest assembly in place.

10009] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: 10010] Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of an infant carrier apparatus; [00111 Figure 2 is a schematic view illustrating a backrest holder base used in the infant carrier apparatus shown in Figure 1; [00121 Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating how the backrest assembly can be held at a desired inclination; [0013] Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating how the backrest assembly can be held in horizontally collapsed configurations of use; [00141 Figure 5 is a schematic view illustrating the infant carrier apparatus in a forward-facing seating configuration of use; 100151 Figure 6 is a schematic view illustrating the infant carrier apparatus with the backrest assembly in a rearward horizontally collapsed configuration of use; [0016] Figure 7 is a schematic view illustrating the infant carrier apparatus in rearward-facing seating configuration; and [0017] Figure 8 is a schematic view illustrating the infant carrier apparatus with the backrest assembly in a forward horizontally collapsed configuration of use.

[0018] The present application describes an embodiment of infant carrier apparatus 100 that has multiple configurations of use, and can be easily and conveniently operated to change the orientation of the backrest. As shown in Figure 1, the infant carrier apparatus 100 can be exemplary a stroller apparatus, comprising a support frame 2, a backrest assembly 4, a seat assembly 6 and a pair of backrest holder bases 8. The support frame 2 can include front legs 22A, rear legs 22B, side armrests 24, and a plurality of wheels 26. The front and rear legs 22A and 22B can have respective upper ends pivotally coupled with the side armrests 24, and lower ends mounted with the wheels 26.

[0019] The backrest assembly 4 can comprise left and right side tube segments 42, left and right side rails 44, and a transversal coupling link 46 connected with the tubular segments 42 and side rails 44. The tube segments 42 and side rails 44 are respectively placed adjacent to the left and right sides of the seat assenibly 6. Each tube segment 42 and the associated side rail 44 located on the same side are spaced apart from each other, and extend substantially parallel along a lengthwise axis of the backrest assembly 4. As described hereafter, the tube segment 42 and the side rail 44 have opposite first and second end portions that are respectively connected with the coupling link 46 and pivot shafts proximate to the seat assembly 6 to allow adjustment of the backrest assembly 4.

[0020] The coupling link 46 can have a generally U-shape including a central or transversal portion 46A that extends transversal along the width direction (i.e., from the left to right side) of the seat assembly 6, and bent side portions 46B that are respectively joined with the left and right ends of the central portion 46A. The coupling link 46, including the transversal portion 46A and the side portions 46B, can be formed in a single body.

[0021] On a same side of the seat assembly 6 (i.e., left and right side), the tube segment 42 and side rail 44 respectively have first end portions 421 and 442 (i.e., end portions that are remote from the seat assembly 6) that are respectively connected with the corresponding side portion 46B of the coupling link 46 via pivot points A and 13, the pivot point A being closer to the distal end of the side portion 46B than the pivot point B. With this connection, the tube segments 42 and side rails 44 can move synchronously when the inclination of the backrest assembly 4 is adjusted. The two tube segments 42, the two side rails 44 and the coupling link 46 can thereby form a backrest frame for support of a child installed in the infant carrier apparatus 100, the side rails 44 being able to provide lateral resting support for the child.

[00221 Referring again to Figure 1, the seat assembly 6 can include a seating member, for example seat board 62. The seat board 62 can have front and rear portions that respectively define front and rear seating surface 6A and 6B. A front portion of the seat board 62 can have left and right side edges respectively provided with laterally protruding studs 622 that are fixedly connected with the front legs 22A.

Raised portions 64 are also formed on the upper surface of the seat board 62 at opposite left and right sides thereof. Each of the side rails 44 has a lower or second end portion 444 that is pivotally connected with one associated raised portion 64 via a pivot shaft 642 (e.g., pin or rivet).

[00231 A U-shaped handle element 28 is also mounted in a straddle position over the seat board 62. In particular, the handle element 28 can have two side segments that are respectively coupled with the rear legs 22B via connecting elements 282. A user can thereby maneuver the infant carrier apparatus 100 via the handle element 28.

[0024] As shown in Figure 1, two elongated openings 66 can be formed on the left and right sides of the seat board 62, respectively placed proximate to inner sides of the raised portions 64. The backrest holder bases 8 can be respectively assembled through the openings 66, and affixed with inner sidewalls of the seat board 62 at laterally opposite positions. The tube segments 42 have second end portions that are respectively connected with the backrest holder bases 8 in a movable manner, and are provided with latch portions 422. Each of the latch portions 422 can be operable to releasibly engage with the associated backrest holder base 8 to lock the backrest assembly 4 (i.e., including the tube segments 42 and side rails 44) in place after it has been adjusted to a desired position.

[0025] Figures 2 and 3 are perspective and partial cross-sectional views illustrating the assembly of the backrest holder base 8 with the tube segment 42. The backrest holder base 8 can include a hollow element formed in a single body, such as housing 82 having a generally semi-circular shape. The housing 82 can include an inner cavity 84 that is opened on an upper side, and has an inner bottom surface provided with a plurality of locking grooves 822. The second end portion of the tube segment 42 (i.e., opposite to the first end portion 421) can pass through the upper opening of the housing 82 into the inner cavity 84, and connect with the housing 82 via a pivot shaft 824 (e.g., pin or rivet) that defines the axis of rotation of the tube segment 42, the locking grooves 822 being placed at different radial directions relative to the pivot shaft 824. In one embodiment, the pivot shafl 824 can be placed riglit below and parallel to the pivot shaft 642 (as shown in Figure 3), such that the rotating movement of the tube segments 42 and side rails 44 can be facilitated. Moreover, the pivot shaft 824 can also extend for pivotal connection with the closest side segment of the handle element 28 located on the same side of the seat board 62 (as shown in Figure 1).

Accordingly, the tube segments 42 and handle element 28 can rotate about a same pivot axis.

[00261 As shown in Figure 3, the tube segment 42 can include an elongated slot 424 through which the pivot shaft 824 is passed to define the axis of rotation of the tube segment 42. An inner side of the tube segment 42 can be mounted with a spring 426 that has a first end anchored with the pivot shaft 824, and a second end anchored with a protrusion formed in the tube segment 42. The spring 426 can be operable to bias the tube segment 42 to a position in locking engagement with one locking groove 822.

Owing to the sliding connection of the pivot shaft 824 thrOugh the elongated slot 424, the tube segment 42 can be movable relative to the pivot shaft 824 and backrest holder base 8 along its lengthwise axis X in addition to rotation movements about the pivot shaft 824.

[0027] In Figure 3, the tube segment 42 is shown in locking engagement with the backrest holder base 8. More specifically, the latch portion 422 can engage with one of the locking grooves 822 so as to block rotation Of the tube segment 42 and side rail 44, so that the backrest assembly 4 can be locked in place at a desired inclination.

[0028] Referring to Figure 4, when a user wants to adjust the backrest assembly 4, the tube segment 42 can be pulled in the direction F to cause the latch portion 422 to disengage from the locking groove 822, which results in compression of the spring 426.

It is noted that this operation may result in a slight displacement of the coupling link 46 as well as movement of the tube segment 42 relative to the side rail 44 and the coupling link 46. After disengagement of the latch portion 422, the backrest assembly 4 can be rotated for adjusting its position. Owing to the interconnection via the coupling link 46, the tube segment 42 and side rail 44 can move in a synchronous manner when the backrest assembly 4 is adjusted: the tube segment 42 can rotate about the pivot shaft 824 while the side rail 44 rotates synchronously about the pivot shaft 642. Once the backrest assembly 4 is adjusted to the desired position, the spring force applied by the spring 426 can bias the latch portion 422 of the tube segment 42 to engage with a corresponding locking groove 822, such that the backrest assembly 4 can be securely held at the new inclination.

[0029] As shown with phantom lines in Figure 4, the backrest assembly 4 (including the tube segments 42 and the side rails 44) can also be collapsed to,a generally horizontal position adjacent to the seat assembly. In this position, the latch portion 422 can lie completely outside the inner cavity 84. Moreover, the spring force applied by the spring 426 can bias the latch portion 422 to engage with another locking location (as shown with the horizontal arrow) different and spaced apart from the locking grooves 822. In one embodiment, the spring force applied by the spring 426 can bias the latch portion 422 to engage and contact with an abutment surface 828 that can stop rotation of the backrest assembly 4 in the direction Dl. In addition, a portion of the tube segment 42 spaced apart from the latch portion 422 can also contact with another abutment surface 829 that can stop rotation of the backrest assembly 4 in a direction D2 opposite to the direction Dl. In this manner, the backrest assembly 4 can be securely held in a horizontally collapsed position substantially parallel to the seat board 62.

[00301 According to one embodiment, the abutment surface 828 can be formed by an upper or top surface of the housing 82 or the seat board 62, whereas the opposite abutment surface 829 can be formed by a rear end surface of the housing 82 or the seat board 62 It will be appreciated that multiple variant ways may be possible to form the abutment surfaces 828 and 829. For example, a separate plate element may also be affixed to any of the housing 82, seat board 62 or other regions of the support frame 2 to form these abutment surfaces.

[0031] When the backrest assembly 4 is to be adjusted from the generally horizontal position to another inclination, the tube segment 42 may be pulled so as to disengage the latch portion 422 from the abutment surface 828. The backrest assembly 4 may be then rotated to the desired inclination, causing the latch portion 422 to travel through the inner cavity 84 of the housing 82.

[0032] Figures 5 through 8 are schematic views illustrating various configurations of use of the infant carrier apparatus 100. In Figure 5, the infant carrier apparatus 100 is shown in a forward-facing seating configuration. The backrest assembly 4 is inclined rearward, so that a child can be seated on the seat assembly 6 facing forward.

[0033] Figure 6 is a schematic view illustrating the infant carrier apparatus 100 with the backrest assembly 4 in a rearward horizontally collapsed configuration of use.

The backrest assembly 4 is collapsed rearward to a substantially horizontal position adjacent to the rear seating surface 6B of the seat assembly 6. The latch portion 422 is located outside the inner cavity 84 of the housing 82, and can engage and contact with the abutment surface 828 (as shown in Figure 4) to prevent forward rotation of the backrest assembly 4. In the meantime, the other abutment surface 829 adjacently facing the tube segment 42 can block rearward rotation of the backrest assembly 4. In this configuration of use, a child can lie down in a sleeping position substantially horizontal on the front seating surface 6A and the backrest assembly 4, the feet being positioned forward and the head rearward.

100341 Figure 7 is a schematic view illustrating the infant carrier apparatus 100 in a reanvard-facing seating configuration. The backrest assembly 4 is inclined forward, such that a child can be seated facing rearward.

[0035] Figure 8 is a schematic view illustrating the infant carrier apparatus 100 with the backrest assembly 4 in a forward horizontally collapsed configuration of use.

The backrest assembly 4 is collapsed forward to a substantially horizontal position adjacent to the front seating surface 6A of the seat assembly 6. The latch portion 422 is located outside the inner cavity 84 of the housing 82, and can engage and contact with the abutment surface 829 (shown in Figure 4) to prevent rotation of the backrest assembly 4 in the direction D2. In the meantime, the other abutment surface 828 adjacently facing the tube segment 42 can block rotation of the backrest assembly 4 in the direction Dl. In this configuration of use, a child can lie down in a sleeping position substantially horizontal on the rear seating surface 6B and the backrest assembly 4, the feet being positioned rearward and the head forward.

[00361 The backrest assembly 4 and backrest holder base 8 are simple in construction and operation, and can be implemented with an economical manufacture cost. Moreover, the backrest assembly 4 can be easily, adjusted by pulling on the backrest assembly and rotating it to the desired position. While the embodiment of a stroller apparatus has been described previously, the mechanisms and features provided herein may be applicable to other examples of infant carrier apparatus such as child chairs, swing apparatus, etc. [0037] Realizations in accordance with the present invention therefore have been described only in the context of particular embodiments. These embodiments are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. Accordingly, plural instances may be provided for components described herein as a single instance. Structures and functionality presented as discrete components in the exemplary configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims that follow.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. An infant carrier apparatus comprising: a support frame; a seat assembly having a seating member; a backrest assembly, including a tube segment having a latch portion and operable to rotate relative to the seat assembly; and a backrest holder base adapted to engage with the latch portion to hold the backrest assembly at a desired position, wherein the backrest assembly is adjustable to a position lying substantially parallel to the seating member to define a horizontally collapsed configuration of use.
2. The apparatus according to claim I, wherein the backrest holder base includes a housing, and the latch portion is located on an outer side of the housing when the backrest assembly is in the horizontally collapsed configuration of use.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the latch portion is adapted to contact with an abutment surface to keep the backrest assembly adjacent to the seat assembly in the horizontally collapsed configuration of use.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the abutment surface is fonned by a top surface of the seating member.
5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the abutment surface is formed by an upper surface of the housing.
6. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the backrest assembly further includes a side rail, wherein the side rail and the tube segment extend generally in a lengthwise axis of the backrest assembly, and respectively have first end portions pivotally connected with a coupling link.
7, The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first end portions are connected with different locations of the coupling link, the side rail and the tube segment respectively have second end portions that are opposite to the first end portions and are connected proximate to the seating member about different pivot shafts.
8. The apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the side rail is located on an outer side of the tube segment.
9. The apparatus according to claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein the tube segment is operable to slide along the lengthwise axis to cause the latch portion to engage with or disengage from the backrest holder base to either lock the backrest assembly in place or allow adjUstment thereof.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the tube segment includes a spring adapted to bias the latch portion in locking engagement with the backrest holder base.
11. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the seating member has a front seating surface and a rear seating surface, and the backrest assembly is collapsible to a position substantially adjacent to the rear seating surface to define a rearward horizontally collapsed configuration of use.
12. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the seating member has a front seating surface and a rear seating surface, and the backrest assembly is collapsible to a position substantially adjacent to the front seating surface to define a forward horizontally collapsed configuration of use.
13. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the backrest holder base includes a housing having an inner cavity provided with a plurality of locking grooves, the latch portion being operable to engage with any of the locking grooves to hold the backrest assembly in place.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the housing has a generally semi-circular shape.
15. An infant carrier apparatus comprising: a support frame; a seat assembly; a backrest assembly, including a latch portion and operable to rotate relative to the seat assembly; and a backrest holder base, including a hollow housing in which are provided a plurality of locking grooves, adapted to engage with the latch portion to hold the backrest assembly at a desired position, wherein the latch portion is operable to travel into the housing to engage with any of the locking grooves to hold the backrestassembly in place.
16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the housing has a generally semi-circular shape.
17. The apparatus according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the backrest assembly includes a tube segment and a side rail extending along a lengthwise axis of the backrest assembly, the tube segment and the side rail being pivotally connected with a coupling link.
18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the coupling link includes a transversal portion extending along a width of the seat assembly.
19. The apparatus according to any of claims 15 to 18, wherein the seating assembly has a front seating surface and a rear seating surface, and the backrest assembly is adjustable to a position substantially adjacent to the rear seating surface to define a rearward horizontally collapsed configuration of use.
20. The apparatus according to any of claims 15 to 18, wherein the seating member has a front seating surface and a rear seating surface, and the backrest assembly is adjustable to a position substantially adjacent to the front seating surface to define a forward horizontally collapsed configuration of use.
21. An infant carrier apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.