GB2481138A

GB2481138A - A stroller with a longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat

Info

Publication number: GB2481138A
Application number: GB201109762A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jia-Shu Tian; Ling He
Original assignee: Lerado Zhongshan Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Lerado Zhongshan Industrial Co Ltd
Priority date: 2010-06-13
Filing date: 2011-06-11
Publication date: 2011-12-14
Anticipated expiration: 2031-06-11
Also published as: GB2481138B; CN201729180U; DE202011050419U1; GB201109762D0

Abstract

A stroller with a longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat comprises a stroller frame 10, a second seat 3 and a retaining mechanism 5. The stroller frame 10 has a pair of longitudinal rails 14 for slidably supporting the second seat 3, and a pair of sockets 17 for detachably connecting and supporting a first seat 2. The second seat 3 has a pair of front holding elements 34 for slidably engaging with and being guided by the pair of longitudinal rails 14. The retaining mechanism 5 is capable of releasably locking the second seat 3 at the rear end of the stroller for accommodating a child occupant in the second seat 3. When the retaining mechanism 5 is manipulated to release the second seat 3, the second seat 3 can be slid toward a stowed position near to the front end of the longitudinal rails 14.

Description

A STROLLER WITH A LONGITUDINALLY SLIDABLE AND

DETACHABLE SECOND SEAT

[001] The present invention relates generally to a stroller, and especially to a single seat stroller mounted with a slidable and detachable second seat.

[002] A double seat stroller is useful for carrying two babies in a single journey. However, the structures of traditional double seat strollers are normally bulky, complex and very expensive.

[003] U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,145 discloses an improved double seat stroller in which a second seat is detachably mounted at the front end of a single seat stroller.

There is, though, some unsolved problems in relation to this double seat stroller. For example, the second seat cannot be folded with the single seat stroller. Also, before starting a journey with a first baby or child occupant, the second seat should be temporarily removed before the first baby or child occupant is sat in the first seat, and thereafter the second seat is reinstalled for the second baby or child occupant to sit therein.

[004] Another improved double seat stroller is disclosed in WO 2,817,128, and comprises a second seat to be detachably mounted at the front end of a single seat stroller. As the angle of the back of the second seat is not adjustable, this is likely to cause the occupant of the seat to feel uncomfortable, and if they cannot express themselves by speaking, they are liable to cry loudly in order to complain about feeling uncomfortable due to the wrong angle of the back of the seat.

[005] n order to improve the structure of above-mentioned double seat strollers, the present invention provides a stroller with a longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat which comprises at least a stroller frame, a second seat and a retaining mechanism. The stroller frame has a pair of longitudinal rails for slidably support the second seat, and a pair of sockets for detachably connecting and supporting a first seat. The second seat has a pair of front holding elements for slidably engaging with and guiding by the pair of longitudinal rails. The retaining mechanism is capable ofreleasably locking the second seat at the rear end of the stroller for accommodating a child occupant in the second seat; when the retaining mechanism manipulated to release the second seat, the second seat can be slid toward a stowed position near to the front end of the longitudinal rails.

[006] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: [007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of a stroller frame and the longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat according the present invent ion; [008] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view for showing an embodiment of the longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat and a longitudinal rail of the stroller frame according to the present invention; [009] FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing the longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat of the present invention retained at the rear end of the stroller frame; [010] FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing the operation for adjusting the angle of the back of the longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat according the present invention; [011] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing the folding and the operation for releasing the longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat from the rear end of the stroller frame; [012] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing the longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat folded and slid to a stowed position near to the front end of the stroller frame; [013] FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the stroller frame and the longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat removed from the stroller frame; [014] FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing an alternative embodiment of the longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat, in which a side extending portion is provided on an anchoring element for releasing the second seat from being retained on the stroller; and [015] FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing another alternative embodiment of the longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat in which a linking element is connected between the anchoring elements for releasing the same synchronously.

[016] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention; examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[017] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, an embodiment of a stroller with a longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat 3 comprises at least a stroller frame 10, a second seat 3 and a retaining mechanism 5.

[018] The stroller frame 10 has at least a pair of longitudinal rails 14 for slidably supporting the second seat 3, and a pair of sockets 17 for detachably connecting and supporting a first seat 2. The stroller frame 10 is foldable and includes at least a front strut 11, a pair of rear struts 12, a U-shaped push bar 13, a pair of linkage rods 15, and a pair of lockable joints 16. The pair of linkage rods 15 are associated the rear struts 12 and the U-shaped push bar 13, and the longitudinal rails 14 are pivoted between the front strut 11 and the rear struts 12, and may be substantially parallel to the ground.

[019] The pair of sockets 17 function together to detachably connect a first chair 2 to the stroller frame 10. The first chair 2 may also be embodied as a baby safety seat or baby carrier, or a seat frame 20 which may change the direction to facing the care giver (rearward) or to face forward.

[020] Referring to FTGS. 2 and 4 to 5, the second seat 3 has a pair of front holding elements 34 for slidably engaging with and for being guided by the pair of longitudinal rails 15.

[021] Preferably, the second seat 3 may further include an angle adjust frame 32, a seat support frame 31, a seat back support frame 33, and an adjust mechanism 4. The angle adjust frame 32 may have a front end extended with two extending arms 35 and the pair of front holding elements 34 and having a plurality of angle positioning slots 36. Each of the front holding elements 34 may be formed with a C-like portion with an opening for engaging with and disengaging from the longitudinal rail 14.

[022] The seat support frame 3lis connected with the angle adjust frame 32 for supporting a child or infant occupant on the second seat 3. The seat back support frame 33 is pivoted to the rear end of the angle adjust frame 32. The adjust mechanism 4 is operatively connected to the seat back support frame 33 and releasably engages with one of the angle positioning slots 36 thereby positioning the seat back support frame 33 in a selected angle.

[023] The adjust mechanism 4 may include a pair of spring biased pins 41 (biased by springs 42) and a release element 43. The spring biased pins 41 are movably installed at the lower end of the seat back support frame 33 for releasably and selectively engaging with one of the angle positioning slots 36. The release element 43 is for disengaging the pair of spring biased pin 41 from one of the angle positioning slots 36 thereby changing the seat back support frame 33 to a new selected angle position. Tn order to remotely drive the spring biased pin 41, the release element 43 may be associated with the spring biased pin 41 via a connecting element 44.

[024] The retaining mechanism 5 is capable of releasably locking the second seat 3 at the rear end of the stroller for accommodating a child occupant in the second seat 3. When the retaining mechanism 5 is manipulated to release the second seat 3, the second seat 3 can be slid toward a stowed position near to the front end of the longitudinal rails 14.

[025] Preferably, the retaining mechanism 5 includes a pair of protruded or protruding elements 51 and a pair of anchoring element 52. The pair of protruded elements 51 are protruded from the rear end of the stroller frame 10 and, for example, protrude at the rear end 50 of the longitudinal rails 14. The anchoring elements 52 are operatively mounted on the angle adjust frame 32 for releasably anchoring on the protruded elements 51 thereby retaining the second seat 3 at the rear end of the stroller frame 10.

[026] The anchoring elements 52 are biased by two resilient elements 53 to be thereby kept anchored or to thereby keeping anchor on the protruded elements 51.

When the anchoring elements 52 are pressed against the resilient elements 53, the second seat 3 can be released and slid toward a stowed position 60 near to a front end of the longitudinal rails 14 as shown in FIG. 6.

[027] When the anchoring elements 52 are disengaged from the protruded elements 51, the second seat 3 can be lift upwardly. This would cause the C-like portion of the front holding elements 34 to disengage from the longitudinal rails 14 as shown in FTG. 7.

[028] Referring again to HG. 2, the angle adjust frame 32 may further include an angle limiting slider 37 biased by a spring 38 for removably stopping the seat back support frame 33 from being completely folded or rotated to a near or substantially horizontal position 40. As shown in FIG. 5, when the angle limiting slider 37 is driven away, the seat back support frame 33 is permitted to rotate and press the top of the anchoring element 52 so as to release the second seat 3 from the rear end 50 of the longitudinal rails 14.

[029] Referring to FTG. 8, an alternative embodiment of the longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat 3 is provided, in which a side extending portion 63 is provided on each of the anchoring element 62 for pressing and disengaging from the protruded element 61 thereby releasing the retaining of the second seat 3.

[030] Referring to FIG. 9, another alternative embodiment of the longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat 3 is provided, in which a linking element 73 is connected between the anchoring elements 72 for releasing them from the protruded elements 71 synchronously.

[031] While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, those skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications are possible that will achieve the same goals by substantially the same device, and where those devices still fall within the scope of the invention disclosed.

Claims

Claims: 1. A stroller with a longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat, comprising at least: a stroller frame, having a pair of longitudinal rails and a pair of sockets; a second seat, having a pair of front holding elements for slidably engaging with and to be guided by the pair of longitudinal rails; and a retaining mechanism for releasably locking the second seat at a rear end of the stroller for accommodating a child occupant to use the second seat.
2. The stroller with a longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat according to claim 1, wherein the pair of sockets are for detachably connecting a first chair to the stroller frame.
3. The stroller with a longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat according to claim 2, wherein the first chair is a baby safety seat or baby carrier.
4. The stroller with a longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the pair of longitudinal rails are substantially parallel to ground.
5. The stroller with a longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat according to any preceding claim, wherein each of the front holding elements is formed with a C-like portion with an opening for engaging with and disengaging from the longitudinal rail.
6. The stroller with a longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the second seat further includes: an angle adjust frame, having a front end provided with the pair of front holding elements and having a plurality of angle positioning slots; a seat support frame connected with the angle adjust frame for supporting a child occupant on the second seat; a seat back support frame pivoted to a rear end of the angle adjust frame; and an adjust mechanism operatively connected to the seat back support frame and releasably engaging with one of the angle positioning slots thereby positioning the seat back support frame at a selected angle.
7. The stroller with a longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat according to claim 6, wherein the pair of front holding elements are extended from the front end of the angle adjust frame.
8. The stroller with a longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the adjust mechanism comprises: at least one spring biased pin movably installed at the lower end of the seat back support frame for releasably and selectively engaging with one of the angle positioning slots; and a release element for disengaging the at least one spring biased pin from one of the angle positioning slots thereby changing the seat back support frame to a new selected angle position.
9. The stroller with a longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat according to claim 8, wherein the adjust mechanism includes a pair of said spring biased pins.
10. The stroller with a longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the release element is associated with the at least one spring biased pin via a connecting element for driving the at least one spring biased pin remotely.
11. The stroller with a longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the angle adjust frame further include an angle limiting slider for removably stopping the seat back support frame from being completed folded to near a horizontal position.
12. The stroller with a longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat according to any one of claims 6 to 11, wherein the retaining mechanism comprises: a pair of protruding elements protruding from the rear end of the stroller frame; and a pair of anchoring elements operatively mounted on the angle adjust frame for releasably anchoring on the protruding elements respectively thereby retaining the second seat at the rear end of the stroller frame.
13. The stroller with a longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat according to claim 12, wherein the protruding elements protrude from a rear end of the longitudinal rails.
14. The stroller with a longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the anchoring elements are biased by two resilient elements to be thereby kept anchored on the protruding elements.
15. The stroller with a longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat according to claim 13, wherein the second seat is released and moved toward a stowed position near to a front end of the longitudinal rails, when the anchoring elements are pressed against the resilient elements.
16. The stroller with a longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the anchoring elements are driven by rotating the seat back support frame against the resilient elements so as to release from the protruding elements.
17. The stroller with a longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat according to claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein the anchoring elements each has a side extending portion for user to push and release the anchoring elements from the protruding elements.
18. The stroller with a longitudinally slidable and detachable second seat according claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein the retaining mechanism further includes a linking element associated between the anchoring elements thereby keeping the anchoring elements to anchor on and release from the protruding elements synchronously.