GB2490308A

GB2490308A - Convertible child transport

Info

Publication number: GB2490308A
Application number: GB201106465A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Michael Stephens
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-04-17
Filing date: 2011-04-17
Publication date: 2012-10-31
Also published as: GB201106465D0

Abstract

An infant wheeled carriage 1 which provides attachment to a bicycle 100 and a foldable stroller handle 2. The wheeled carriage 1 may replace the front wheel of the bicycle 100 and be attached to the fork and clamped to the bicycleâ s 100 down tube. The carriage 1 may additionally include a rigid cover 12. A brake lever 6 may be provided for attachment to the stroller handle 2 or the bicycle handlebar, in accordance with the mode of use.

Description

PATENT APPLICATION

OF

CHRIS STEPHENS

FOR

INFANT WHEELED CARRIAGE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an infant wheeled carriage, more particularly for bicycles.

Background

Increasing numbers of people are taking to public highways or roads on bicycles.

This is due to a variety of reasons, ranging through health, cost and environmental.

Increasing numbers of people do not own other vehicles particularly in large cities, meaning that if public transport is not available they are not easily able to transport children if they wish to do so beyond comfortable walking distance.

Accordingly many users transport their child on their bicycle. This may be on a handlebar seat, a seat above the rear wheel, or a trailer that is pulled behind the bicycle.

The use of these trailers allows for more mobility but typically only from a first point to a second point along main roads as they are unwieldy and difficult to accommodate.

Additionally they do not allow the use of or provide space for a buggy, stroller, or pushchair, so upon arrival at a destination the child will need to walk.

Currently there are a number of different transportation systems available, which allow a child to be carried as a passenger on a bicycle. The current most popular existing solutions are as follows: 1) Rear seat which is attached to a bicycle by slotting into a frame mounted bracket; 2) A seat in front of the cyclist, which mounts on almost any bicycle by way of an independent steel support bar that attaches between the front handle bar tube and the seat post; 3) A trailer which is attached to the bicycle frame using a clamp; 4) An all-in-one bicycle! pushchair! bike powered child carrier.

There are limitations with each of these solutions: 1) The rear seat option does not allow easy communication with or monitoring of the child. lt can also cause balance issues.

2) The frame mounted front seat can restrict the room that a cyclist might have to conduct a full! efficient pedal stroke.

3) A trailer allows for very little interaction with the child and can move independently to the bicycle.

4) The all-in-one bicycle! pushchair! bike powered child carrier requires the purchase of an entirely new system which may leave an already owned bicycle redundant. It is also a relatively expensive solution.

Prior Art

Accordingly there have been a number of previous attempts to solve the same or similar problems, including the following patent applications: International patent application WO 2010 017 032 (EHRENREICH et al) discloses a vehicle for pushing and riding, the vehicle comprising: a frame having a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion defining a pushing section and having a lower connection post containing braking and steering components for the front portion and the rear portion defining a riding section and having an upper connection post containing braking and steering components for the rear portion, the upper and lower connection posts threadedly engaging each other within a steering portion of the frame; and a lever assembly connected to the steering portion of the frame and comprising a crossbar that supports a front fork component of the rear portion of the frame.

International patent application WO 2009 035 441 (EHRENREICH et al) discloses a vehicle for pushing and riding, the vehicle comprising: a frame having a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion defining a pushing section and a having a lower connection post containing braking and steering components and the rear portion defining a riding section and having an upper connection post containing braking and steering components for the rear portion, the upper and lower connection posts being threadedly engaged within a steering portion of the frame; a hitch beam on the front portion of the frame; an attaching mechanism on the rear portion of the frame being fastened around the hitch beam for connecting the front portion and the rear portion; a pair of front wheels operationally connected to the front portion of the frame; and at least one rear wheel operationally connected to the rear portion of the frame.

European patent application EP 1 690 782 (HESSBURG) discloses a bike trailer for coupling to a bike, said bike including a frame, a front fork being pivotal around a steering axis in relation to the frame, and a front wheel located at the free end of the front fork, said bike trailer including: -a first frame part, -a frame coupler located on the first frame part and by means of which the first frame part can be coupled stiffly to the frame of the bike, -a first wheel and a second wheel placed substantially parallel to each other, and which can be steered around a steering axis with a view to adjusting the direction of travelling, and -a steering mechanism dirigibly connected to the wheels, so that the direction of travelling can be adjusted by means of the steering mechanism, -said steering mechanism including a steering bracket adapted to be coupled to the free end of the front fork when the front wheel of the bike is removed, characterised in that the steering axis of the first wheel and the steering axis of the second wheel are displaced in the longitudinal direction of the bike trailer in relation to the steering axis of the bike when the bike trailer is coupled to the bike United States patent application US 5 193 831 (CAPITOLI) discloses a recreational vehicle for transporting at least two riders comprising: a) a propulsion device adapted for use by a first one of said riders and having a frame to which (i) at least one wheel, (ii) a pedalling mechanism for driving said wheel, (iii) a seat, and (iv) a front fork are attached; b) a cart adapted for use by a second one of said riders and having at least one wheel having a steering mechanism coupled thereto; and c) means for coupling said propulsion device to said cart, said coupling means being mounted on said cart and adapted to engage said front fork, whereby said first rider provides propulsion for said vehicle and said second rider provides steering for said vehicle.

In contrast the present invention provides a space saving dual purpose stroller and bicycle attachment.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided an infant wheeled carriage which provides attachment means to a bicycle and displaceable stroller handle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention the carriage is characterised that in use the carriage replaces a bicycle wheel.

Ideally the carriage in use replaces the bicycle's front wheel. Preferably this may be a disc braking wheel, but in preferred embodiments the carriage is attachable to any bicycle. Preferably therefore mechanisms are provided for attachment to forks and/or frame.

Additionally transferable braking means are provided, wherein the activation of the braking means may be relocated from the carriage to the bicycle. For example a brake lever may be situated on the carriage such that it is conveniently located or accessible from the stroller handle when unfolded. Said lever may be adjustable, transferable or relocatable such that it may be used when the carriage replaces the bicycle front wheel.

In addition or in the alternative quick release mechanisms are ideally employed on the carriage in a means similar to quick release mechanisms commonly found or deployed on bicycle front wheels. In this way quick release connections may be made with the bicycle forks and/or its frame or a brake lever. In this way a user may easily relocate the brake lever and additionally or alternatively clamp the carriage and bicycle together.

In preferred embodiments a three wheel configuration is provided on the carriage.

Preferably at Jeast one of these is of a larger radius.

Preferably at least one of the wheels may be displaced or retracted such that when the carriage is in collaboration with a bicycle it may be removed from use. Ideally this wheel or wheels is/are used for steering the carriage when it is not collaborating with the bicycle that is when the carriage is in stroller configuration.

Examples of this steering wheel may include castor wheels.

Ideally the braking mechanism is active on wheels that are not used for steering when the carriage is in stroller configuration.

Ideally in order to be operable in stroller configuration the handle is extended, displaced or folded out. A clip or segment mechanism is provided so as to ensure that the handle remains in place when the carriage is a stroller.

The frame of the carriage is preferably tubular steel or aluminium. A rigid cover or cover frame is ideally provided. This may be formed in part or whole of plastic, with some embodiments including a rigid plastic monocoque.

Further embodiments may have a frame including metal ribbing, such as including canvas webbing or other material between the ribs.

Yet further embodiments of the carriage may attach to a fork using a quick release mechanism which in turn is attached to the carriage frame. In between the quick release mechanism, and hence where the fork connects, is a rotating disc and rod.

The rod would be connected to the axle of the buggy wheels using a belt-driven system in order that the front wheel braking could be applied. The push bar of the carriage would also attach to the bicycle handle bars for further safety.

This invention therefore may be said to relate to a child's pushchair which can be attached to the front fork of a bicycle after removing the front wheel of the bicycle.

This enables the user to transport a child by pedalling the bicycle, thereby converting the pushchair into a bicycle seat for a child and converting the bicycle into a tricycle.

The carriage can be attached to a large variety of bicycle types and styles to provide a safe passenger compartment for children, offering improved communication versus rear mounted seats and subsequent bonding between the rider and passenger.

In ideal embodiments the carriage when in pushchair or stroller mode is a three wheeled transportation system, with one front castor wheel and two parallel rear wheels. The front castor wheel is folded up prior to attachment to the bicycle. To attach the carriage to a bicycle involves the removal of the bicycle's front wheel using a quick release mechanism. The front fork of the bicycle can then be attached to the pushchair adaptor using the carriage quick release mechanism. The carriage also has a clamp which is attached to the downtube of the bicycle in order to increase stability.

In addition he carriage's braking mechanism may ideally be used either in pushchair or stroller mode, and also when attached to the bicycle. This may involve two disc brakes which would be situated on each of the carriage's rear wheels. A brake lever would ordinarily be attached to the carriage where a user would push the carriage in stroller configuration, such as a handle, but would be relocated to the bicycle's handlebars when the carriage is attached to the bicycle. A natural braking action would be then encouraged by attaching the lever as close to the bicycle's existing front brake lever as possible. The stroller handle is intended to be telescopic, having a locking mechanism to facilitate the lowering or raising of the handle to a comfortable level. The handle would be lowered fully when the carriage is attached to the bicycle.

The carriage is in effect preferably a pushchair which can be attached to most bicycles wherein the attachment involves the unlocking of an extension arm, being an integral part of the pushchair. The handle of the pushchair would be folded back and telescopically lowered fully. The brake lever which operates the two rear disc brakes of the pushchair would be removed using a quick release mechanism and is re-attached to the bicycle's handlebar. The bicycle front wheel would then be removed typically using its quick release mechanism. The front castor wheel of the pushchair would be raised and locked out of the way using a spring loaded switch. The bicycle is then attached using a quick release mechanism on the pushchair and clamping the extension arm to the down tube of the bicycle.

Because the carriage in use attached to the bicycle is in front of the bicycle rider, it allows for greater levels of monitoring and communicating with a child carried within.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a side view of a preferred embodiment of a carriage in use attached to a bicycle; Figure 2 shows an overhead view of a preferred embodiment of a carriage in use attached to a bicycle; Figure 3 shows an isometric view of the embodiment in use attached to a bicycle; Figure 4 shows view from below of the embodiment in use attached to a bicycle; Figure 5 shows a second isometric view of the embodiment in use attached to a bicycle; Figure 6 shows an isometric view of the embodiment in use as a stroller; Figures 7 show two detail views of the preferred embodiment in use; And Figures 8 show two views of the embodiment in use as a stroller.

Detailed Description of Figures

The carriage 1 may be attached to a large variety of bicycle (100) types and styles to provide a safe passenger compartment for children.

The carriage 1 may then be detached from the bicycle 100 to operate as a pushchair or stroller, as shown in Figures 2 and 8.

The carriage I offers improved communication and subsequent bonding between a bicycle rider and carriage passenger when the carriage is attached to a bicycle.

In order to attach the carriage I the user uses a slide button on a clamp 30 to unlock the extension arm 3 and turn the clamp through 180 degrees. This inclines the clamp 30 at an appropriate angle for attachment of the bicycle.

The carriage 1 is then aligned with the bicycle 100 and the clamp 30 is attached to a down tube of the bicycle 100.

When in stroller configuration as in Figure 2 in order to attach the carriage I to a bicycle 100 the user must fold back and lower the handle 2 using a button locking mechanism on either side of the telescopic section.

The castor wheel 4 at the front of the carriage I must be folded up by sliding the spring loaded switch located behind it. This switch 400 reverts to secure the castor 3 when released.

The rear wheels 40 are used when the carriage is attached to a bicycle. Accordingly they may be sprung or provided with suspension means.

The brake Jever 6 may then be relocated, preferably using a quick reiease mechanism which also allows quick re-attachment to the bicycle handlebars 101.

The cable 7 may be relocated and restrained as appropriate.

This enables the user to operate the carriage brakes from the handlebar 101 of his/her bicycle, avoiding compromising on safety by removal of the front wheel with its attendant braking system.

The user will then attach the front forks to the carriage adaptor 5 using the carriage quick release mechanism. This adaptor 5 secures the forks by means of the nuts that typically hold a front wheel in place. Furthermore when the handlebars 101 are turned the adaptor 5 allows rotation of the carriage 1 with respect to the arm 3 and the bicycle 100. The adaptorS therefore includes a swivel mounting on the arm 3.

Typically the bicycle front wheel is removed using its own quick release mechanism.

It may be envisaged that embodiments of the carriage may be sold with kits to convert a bicycle frame or front wheel release mechanism.

However, typically the carriage provides a safe and secure passenger experience for a child that is easy to attach to most existing bicycle frames.

A soft EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) foam handle cover is included in the preferred embodiment to ensure an ergonomic grip. The handle is ideally adjustable reclining telescopic.

A zippably closable entry and exit window 11 is preferably provided in the pictured instance of a fabric shell, with optional shower-proof guard.

In the preferred embodiment the shell 10 of the carriage I is created 420 Denier polyurethane coated fabric in order to ensure protection from the sun, wind and rain.

Breathable polyester mesh windows 12 are provided with an optional shower-proof guard.

The pictured embodiment has a lightweight anodised aluminium frame. Further embodiments may include steel reinforcement or other methods to improve safety and structural strength or rigidity.

Further embodiments may include crumple zones, fibre panels or portions or other safety features such as raised and/or reinforced sides to the carriage.

The picture embodiment uses a durable, strong and water resistant ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) base 13. This base may also be moulded into a seat in some embodiments. Some embodiments may provide removable padding or seat. The pictured embodiment has a padded seat with wicking mesh.

The belt in the preferred embodiments is a padded 5 point retention safety harness 8.

In order to ensure comfort and steering facility when the carriage is in a stroller configuration the fold out castor wheel 4 in the preferred embodiments has a polyurethane cellular semi solid tyre. The pictured embodiment has a lock stud 400 such that the wheel may be locked in a retracted and/or extended position but other mechanisms may be appropriate such as screw tightening or complete removal.

A track rod pivot chassis is included ideally for manoeuvrability without compromising on flexibility. Ideally the seat is located above the axis of the rear wheels. The rear wheels 40 in the pictured embodiment are 20 inch in diameter, and in some embodiments may be inclined to improve stability. Additionally it is envisaged that the wheels 40 may need to have reinforced rims, such as double walled.

Claims

Claims 1. An infant wheeled carriage which provides attachment to a bicycle and displaceable stroller handle.
2. An infant wheeled carriage according to claim I wherein in use the carriage replaces a bicycle wheel.
3. A carriage according to claim 2 wherein the carriage replaces the front wheel.
4. A carriage according to claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the carriage attaches to a bicycle front fork.
5. A carriage according to claim 4 wherein attachment is achieved using a quick release mechanism, and also by attaching a clamp arm to the bicycle's down tube.
6. A carriage according to any preceding claim wherein the displaceable handle may be foldable.
7. A carriage according to any preceding claim wherein the carriage has a seat with a belt.
8. A carriage according to any preceding claim wherein the carriage provides rigid covering over the seat.
9. A carriage according to any preceding claim wherein the carriage includes a reinforced frame.
10. A carriage according to any preceding claim including disc brakes.
II. A carriage according to any preceding claim including a lock feature to prevent movement of wheels.
12. A carriage according to any preceding claim including a detachable braking lever.
13. A carriage according to any preceding claim including at least one displaceable wheel.
14. A carriage according to any preceding claim including a position for accommodating at least one displaced wheel, either from the bicycle or carriage.