GB2491713A

GB2491713A - A folding stroller

Info

Publication number: GB2491713A
Application number: GB1210105.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jian-Qun Li
Original assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co Ltd Hong Kong
Current assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co Ltd Hong Kong
Priority date: 2011-06-09
Filing date: 2012-06-08
Publication date: 2012-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 2032-06-08
Also published as: GB201210105D0; DE102012011526A1; DE102012011526B4; GB2491713B; CN102815329A; CN102815329B

Abstract

A stroller includes a handle 10, a plurality of front legs 20, a chassis 30, a plurality of wheels 40, a seat plate 60, a seat frame 50, a first link 70 and a second link 80. An upper end of each front leg is pivoted to a lower end of the handle, and the chassis is pivoted to a lower end of each front leg. The seat frame is pivoted between the plurality of front legs for supporting the seat plate. The first link is pivoted between the handle and the seat frame, and the second link is pivoted among the seat frame, the chassis and the one of plurality of front legs in a foldable manner. The foldable second link may comprise a two part linkage 810, 820 which is caused to fold when the handle of the stroller is folded forwards to collapse the stroller. The first and second links may have separate pivot points (see figure 5) on the seat plate and seat frame, so that the seat plate and seat frame separate as the stroller is folded to its collapsed position.

Description

STROLLER

Backgrouir1d of the Invention

* Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a stroller, and specifically relates to a stroller with simple structure and convenient operation.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A stroller facilitates parents to take their baby easily, and it is often designed as a foldable structure for convenient carrying. The stroller is unfolded in use and is foided into a small size for convenient carrying and storage. But conventional stroller has a complicated stroller frame with heavy weight and inconvenient operation. Hence, besides the folding function, simple and safe structure with light weight and convenient operation are also important issues. There is a need to design the stroller frame with simple structure and convenient operation in the stroller industry.

Summary of the Invent ion

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a stroller with simple structure and convenient operation to solve the above problems.

To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a stroller including a handle, a plurality of front legs, a chassis, a plurality of wheels, a seat plate, a seat frame, a first link and a second link. An upper end of each front leg is pivoted to a lower end of the handle. The chassis is pivoted to a lower end of each front leg. The plurality of wheels is respectively installed on the plurality of front legs and the chassis. The seat frame is pivoted between the plurality of front legs for supporting the seat plate. The first link is pivoted between the handle and the seat frame.

The second link is pivoted among the seat frame, the chassis and one of the plurality of front legs in a foldable manner.

Preferably, an upper end of the first link is pivoted to the handle, and a lower end of the first link is pivoted to the seat plate and the seat frame.

Preferably, the lower end of the first link is pivoted to a rear end of the seat frame, and a rear end of the seat plate is pivoted to the first link in a position between the handle and the seat frame.

Preferably, an upper end of the second link is pivoted to a front end of the seat plate and a front end of the seat frame.

Preferably, the second link includes an upper link portion and a lower link portion pivoted to a lower end of the upper linkportion. An upper end of the upper link portion is pivoted to the front end of the seat plate and the front end of the seat frame.

Preferably, the front end of the seat frame, the upper link portion and the plurality of front legs are pivoted by a connecting component.

Preferably, the upper link portion is bent and disposed between the seat frame and the plurality of front legs, and the upper link comprises a bent section pivotally connected to the front end of the seat frame and the seat plate.

Preferably, the stroller further includes a folding mechanism pivcted to the lower end of the handle and the upper end of each front leg, for folding or unfolding the handle and the plurality of front legs.

Preferably, the folding mechanism includes at least one engaging portion for engaging with the lower end of the handle and the upper end of each front leg so as to pivot the handle and the plurality of front legs.

Preferably, the handle is a stretchable handle.

Preferably, the handle, the plurality of front legs and the chassis are pivoted to one another for being folded or unfolded.

To achieve the above objectives, the first link drives the seat plate to separate from the seat frame as being folded.

To achieve the above objectives, the seat frame is driven simultaneously when the first link drives the seat plate.

Preferably, the handle, the plurality of front legs and the chassis are pivoted to one another for being folded or unfolded, the upper link portion and the lower link portion are disposed between the plurality of front legs and the chassis as being unfolded, and the upper link portion and the lower link portion are pivoted to bend as being folded.

The stroller of the present invention includes the first link and the bendable second link. The first link is pivoted between the handle and the seat frame, and the second link is pivoted among the seat frame, the front legs and the chassis in the foldable manner. After unlocking the stroller frame, the handle is pushed forwards for driving the rear end of the j seat frame and the rear end of the seat plate upwards and forwards via the first link, so as to drive the seoond link connected to the front end of the seat plate to be folded simultaneously for changing the linking structure of the front legs, the second link and the chassis accordingly, to achieve the folding function. By rotating the handle to drive the first link, the seat plate and the seat frame move so as to fold the stroller frame, the present invention provides the stroller with simple structure and convenient operation.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings

Brief Description of-the Drawings

FIG.l is a schematic drawing of a stroller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG.2 is a schematic drawing of the stroller without installation of a seat plate according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG.3 is a rear view of the stroller according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG.4 is an enlarged diagram of part A illustrated in FIG.3 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG.5 and FIG.6 are respectively sectional diagrams showing the unfolded stroller and the folded stroller according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG.7 to FIG.9 are respectively lateral views showing the unfolded stroller, the folding stroller and the folded stroller according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

In the figures of the present invention, similar referenoe numerals are used to represent similar parts or components.

Please refer to FIG.1 and FIG.2. FIG.1 is a schematic drawing of a stroller according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.2 is a schematic drawing of the stroller without installation of a seat plate 60 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The stroller includes a handle 10, a plurality of front legs 20 and a chassis 30.

An upper end of each front leg 20 is pivoted to a lower end of thehandle 10, anda lowerendof each front leg2O ispivoted to the chassis 30. The stroller further includes a plurality of wheels 40 respectively installed on the plurality of front legs 20 and the chassis 30. The lower end of the handle 10 and the upper end of each front leg 20 are pivoted by a folding mechanism 90, for folding or unfolding the handle 10 and the plurality of front legs 20. The folding mechanism 90 can include at least one engaging portion (not shown in figures) for engaging with the lower end of the handle 10 and the upper end of each front leg 20 so as to pivot the handle 10 and the plurality of front legs 20. Thus, the handle 10, the front legs 20 and the chassis 30 can be pivoted to one another for folding or unfolding the stroller. A folding actuator 110 can be installed on the handle 10 and connected to the engaging portion for unlocking the engagement of the handle 10 and the plurality of front legs 20. Preferably, the handle 10 can be a stretchable handle for reducing the volume as the stroller is folded.

The stroller includes a seat frame 50 pivoted between the two front legs 20 for supporting the seat plate 60. The seat plate 60 is installed between the two front legs 20 and detachably disposed on the seat frame 50. The stroller further includes a first link 70 and a bendable second link 80. The first link 70 is pivoted between the handle 10 and a rear end of the seat frame 50. A lower end of the first link 70 is pivoted to a rear end of the seat frame 50. The first link 70 is also pivotally connected to the seat plate 60 at a higher point than the lower end of the seat frame 50, so that the rear end of the seat plate 60 is pivoted to the first link 70 in a position between the handle 10 and the seat frame 50. When the stroller is unfolded, the seat frame 50 and the first link can support the seat plate 60 for a baby to sit thereon.

When the stroller is operating to fold or unfold, the first link 70 drives the seat plate 60 and the seat frame 50 to pivot with the movement of the handle 10 and the plurality of front legs 20. The second link 80 is pivoted among a front end of the seat frame 50, the chassis 30 and the front legs 20 in a foldable manner. An upper end of the second link 80 is pivoted to a front end of the seat plate 60, and the second link 80 is pivoted to the front end of the seat frame 50 at a pivot point lower than the upper end of the second link 80. When the stroller is unfolded, the second link 80 is disposed between the plurality of front legs 20 and the chassis 30 and the second link 80 join with the seat plate 60, each front leg 20 and the chassis 30 at three pivotal joints respectively.

The threepivotal joints are not aligned, andthepivotal joint joining the second link 80 and the front end of the seat plate is preferably behind a line connecting the pivotal joint joining the second link 80 and each front leg 20 and the pivotal joint joining the second link 80 and the chassis 30, so as to provide better stability as the stroller is unfolded. For folding the stroller, the first link 70 drives the rear end of the seat plate 60 and the rear end of the seat frame 50 to pivot simultaneously, so as to separate the seat plate 60 from the seat frame 50. That is, the seat frame 50 is driven simultaneously when the first link 70 drives the seat plate 60. Accordingly, the front end of the seat plate 60 drives the second link 80 to bend by moving the pivotal joint joining the second link 80 and the front end of the seat plate 60 about the pivotal joint joining the second link 80 and each front leg 20 for folding the stroller.

Please refer to FIG.3 to FIG.6. FIG.3 is a rear view of the stroller according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG.4 is an enlarged diagram of part A illustrated in FIG.3 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG.5 and FIG.6 are respectively sectional diagrams showing the unfolded stroller and the folded stroller according to the embodiment of the present invention. The front end of the seat frame 50 is pivoted to the two front legs 20. The seat plate 60 is disposed between the two front legs 20 and on the seat frame 50 when the stroller is unfolded. The seat frame can support the seat plate 60 by connecting to the first link 70. The rear end of the seat plate 60 is pivoted to the first link 70, and the front end of the seat plate 60 is pivoted to the second link 80. An upper end of the first link 70 is pivoted to the handle 10. The first link 70 is formed in a bent structure, and a bent section of the first link 70 is pivoted to the rear end of the seat plate 60. The lower end of the first link 70 is pivoted to the rear end of the seat frame 50. The pivotal joint joining the first link 70 and the rear end of the seat piate 60 is higher than the pivotal joint joining the first link 70 and the rear end of the seat frame 50. The second link 80 includes an upper link portion 810, a lower link portion 820 and a connecting portion 830. The upper link portion 810 is formed in a bent structure. An upper end of the upper link portion 810 is pivoted between the seat frame 50 and the front legs 20, and the upper end of the upper link portion 810 is pivoted to the front end of the seat plate 60. The upper link portion 810 is pivoted to the front end of the seat frame 50 and the front legs 20 at a pivot point lower than the upper end of the second link 80. The front end of the seat frame 50, the upper link portion 810 and the plurality of front legs 20 can be pivotedby the same connecting component, such as a rivet. The pivotal joint joining the upper link portion 810 and the front end of the seat plate 60 is higher than the pivotal joint joining the upper link portion 810 and the front end of the seat frame 50. The connecting portion 830 is disposed on a lower end of the upper link portion 810, and an upper end of the lower link portion 820 is pivoted to the connecting portion 830, so that the upper link portion 810 and the lower link portion 820 can pivot to each other.

A lower end of the lower link portion 820 is pivoted to the chassis 30.

Please refer to FIG.7 to FIG.9. FIG.7 to FIG.9 are respectively lateral views showing the unfolded stroller, the folding stroller and the folded stroller according to the embodiment of the present invention. The upper link portion 810 and the lower link portion 820 of the second link 80 are disposed among the plurality of front legs 20, the seat plate and the chassis 30, and the seat frame 50 supports the seat plate 60 when the stroller is unfolded, as shown in FIG.7.

For folding the stroller, the stroller frame can be unlocked first, and then the handle 10 is pushed forwards to drive the first link 70 upwards and forwards. The first link 70 can drive the rear end of the seat plate 60 and the rear end of the seat frame 50 upwards as shown in FIG.8, and a movement of the pivotal joint joining the first link 70 and the rear end of the seat plate 60 is larger than a movement of the pivotal joint joining the first link 70 and the rear end of the seat frame 50, 50 that the seat plate 60 moves more upperly and more forward than the seat frame 50 moves. That is, the rear end of the seat plate 60 separates from the rear end of the seat frame 50 by movement of the first link 70, and there is

S

a gap between the seat plate 60 and the seat frame 50. The upper link portion 810 is pivoted about the pivotal joint joining the upper link portion 810 and the front end of the seat frame 50 by the movement of the front end of the seat plate 50, and the lower link portion 820 of the second link which connected to the lower end of the upper link portion 810 can be pivoted about the pivotal joint joining the lower link portion 820 and the chassis 30 to bend the second link for being folded with the movement of the handle 10. At this time, the four-link structure of the upper link portion 810, the seat frame 50, the seat plate 60 and the first link are driven by the handle 10 and changes the positions of the front legs 20, the upper link portion 810 and the lower link portion 820. The handle 10, the front legs 20 and the chassis 30 are pivoted to one another as pushing the handle for pivoting the seat plate 60. At last, the handle 10, the front legs 20 and the chassis 30 have been folded to fold the stroller as shown in FIG.9, for achieving convenient folding operation. Besides, the folding mechanism of the present invention is also can be applied to other frame structure instead of the stroller frame.

In contrast to the prior art, the stroller of the present invention includes the first link 70 and the bendable second link 80. The first link 70 is pivoted between the handle 10 and the seat frame 50, and the second link 80 is pivoted among the seat frame 50, the front legs 20 and the chassis 30 in the foldable manner. After unlocking the stroller frame, the handle 10 is pushed forwards for driving the rear end of the seat frame 50 and the rear end of the seat plate 60 upwards and forwards via the first link 70, 50 as to drive the second link 80 connected to the front end of the seat plate 60 to be folded simultaneously for changing the linking structure of the front legs 20, the second link 80 and the chassis 30 accordingly, to achieve the folding function. By rotating the handle 10 to drive the first link 70, the seat plate 60 and the seat frame 50 move so as to fold the stroller frame, the present invention provides the stroller with simple structure and convenient operation.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention.

Accordinqly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metec-.and bounds of the appended claims.

Claims

Claims Wha.t is claimed is: 1. A stroller, comprising: a handle; a plurality of front legs, an upper end of each front leg being pivoted to a lower end of the handle; a chassis pivoted to a lower end of each front leg; a plurality of wheels respectively installed on the plurality of front legs and the chassis; a seat plate; a seat frame pivoted between the plurality of front legs for supporting the seat plate; a first link pivoted between the handle and the seat frame; and a second link pivoted among the seat frame, the chassis and one of the plurality of front legs in a foldable manner.
2. The stroller of claim 1, wherein an upper end of the first link is pivoted to the handle, and a lower end of the first link is pivoted to the seat plate and the seat frame.
3. The stroller of claim 2, wherein the lower end of the first link is pivoted to a rear end of the seat frame, and a rear end of the seat plate is pivoted to the first link in a position between the handle and the seat frame.
4. The stroller of claim 1, wherein an upper end of the second link is pivoted to a front end of the seat plate and a front end of the seat frame.
5. The stroller of claim 4, wherein the second link comprises: anupper linkportion, anupperendoftheupper linkportion being pivoted to the front end of the seat plate and the front end of the seat frame; and a lower link portion pivoted to a lower end of the upper link portion.
6. The stroller of olaim 5, wherein the front end of the seat frame, the upper link portion and the plurality of front legs are pivoted by a oonneoting oomponent.
7. The stroller of claims 5 or 6, wherein the upper link portion is disposed between the seat frame and the one of the plurality of front legs, and the upper link portion oomprises a bent section pivotally connected to the front end of the seat frame and the seat plate.
8. The stroller of claim 5, wherein a pivotal joint joining the upper link portion and the front end of the seat frame is lower than a pivotal joint joining the upper link portion and the front end of the seat plate.
9. The stroller of claim 1, further comprising a folding mechanism pivoted to the lower end of the handle and the upper end of each front leg, for folding or unfolding the handle and the plurality of front legs.
10. The stroller of claim 9, wherein the folding mechanism comprises at least one engaging portion for engaging with the lower end of the handle and the upper end of each front leg so as to pivot the handle and the plurality of front legs.
1l.The stroller of claim 10, wherein the handle is a stretchable handle.
12.The stroller of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the handle, the plurality of front legs and the chassis are pivoted to one another for being folded or unfolded.
13.The stroller of claim 12, wherein the first link drives the seat plate to separate from the seat frame as being folded.
14.The stroller of claim 13, wherein the seat frame is driven simultaneously when the first link drives the seat plate.
15.The stroller of claims 5 or 6, wherein the handle, the plurality of front legs and the chassis are pivoted to one another for being folded or unfolded, the upper link portion and the lower link portion are disposed between the plurality of front legs and the chassis as being unfolded, and the upper link portion and the lower link portion are pivoted to bend as being folded.