GB2499654A

GB2499654A - Pushchair with heated seat and dynamo

Info

Publication number: GB2499654A
Application number: GB1203282.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Asta Adomaitiene
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-02-24
Filing date: 2012-02-24
Publication date: 2013-08-28
Also published as: GB201203282D0

Abstract

A pushchair 1 includes a baby carrier 10 having an electrically heatable seat portion 25. Electricity to power the heatable seat is drawn from a power generation means and a heating control 35 is located on the handlebar 5. The power generation means may be a rechargeable battery or a dynamo coupled to a wheel 15 of the pushchair.

Description

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Heatable Seat for a Pushchair

The present invention relates to a heatable pushchair seat and to an electrically heatable seat or mat for placing inside a pushchair.

It is important that a baby secured in a pushchair or baby buggy/stroller is kept warm. Various covers are available for improving insulation around the seated baby, but what is needed is an active heating system. US Patent No. 6,127,655 describes one electrically heated baby stroller.

The present invention provides a pushchair comprising a frame including a push-bar for pushing the pushchair and a plurality of wheels, the pushchair comprising: an electrically heatable seat; power generation mean for providing electrical power to the electrically heatable seat; and a heating control located on the push-bar for controlling the heating provided by the electrically heatable seat. Advantageously, the present invention provides a pushchair with an easily controllable heatable seat.

Preferably, the power generation means comprises at least one dynamo, the or each dynamo coupled to a wheel of the pushchair for generating power from movement of the pushchair. In this way, the action of pushing the pushchair generates electrical energy for powering the heatable seat, saving on electricity costs, removing the need for a battery or at least reducing the size of battery required and extending the time between battery recharges.

The present invention also provides a heating device for a pushchair comprising: an electrically heatable seat positionable in seating area of the pushchair; and at least one dynamo couplable to a wheel of the pushchair for generating electrical

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energy to power the electrically heatable seat in response to movement of the pushchair.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing, Figure 1, which depicts a pushchair 1 embodying the present invention.

A typical pushchair 1 includes a frame 5 supporting a baby carrier 10 and movable on three or four wheels 15. Underneath the baby carrier 10 there is commonly a storage area 20 comprising a cloth sling or similar container attached to the frame. The precise design of the pushchair is not essential to the present invention and a common design is illustrated for convenience only.

In embodiments of the present invention, a seat portion 25 of the baby carrier 10 is electrically heatable. The seat portion 25 may be built into the baby carrier 10 but is preferably a electrically heatable mat which can be easily removed and stored during sufficiently warm weather. Optionally, or as an alternative, a back portion 30 and/or side portions 33 of the baby carrier 10 are also heatable. In the removable mat embodiment, the mat is sized to cover the seat portion 25, the back portion 30, and side portions 33 of the baby carrier 10 as required. For simplicity, a heatable portion of the baby carrier 10 will be referred to as the heatable baby seat 25 but it will be recognised that this refers to any combination of the heating options and alternatives described above.

A heating control 35 is attached to a push-handle of the frame 5 for easy access by a person pushing the pushchair 1. The heating control 35 may be permanently fixed to the frame 5 or may be attached to the frame 5 by a clip or other suitable connector for easy of removal. Similarly, any necessary wiring connecting the

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heating control 35 to the heatable baby seat 25 may pass within the frame for a permanent fixing or may be secured to the exterior of the frame by small clips or any other suitable method. Alternatively, the heating control 35 may contain and be powered by one or more small batteries and have a wireless connection to the heatable baby seat 25.

The heating control 35 is operable to control the temperature of the heatable baby seat 25. The aim is to ensure a comfortable air temperature for a baby placed inside the baby carrier 10,

preferably in a range of between 18°C to 25°C and most preferably at a temperature of 23°C. Depending upon the exterior temperature and the insulating properties of the baby carrier 10 and any cover, such as a transparent plastic cover, placed around the front of the baby carrier 10, the temperature range of the surface of the heatable baby seat 25 is preferably from 25°C to 40°C or even more for particularly cold weather. The maximum surface temperature of the heatable baby seat 25 should be limited to avoid the possibility of burning a baby placed in the carrier 10. The control may be a simple power adjustor but preferably controls a desired air temperature measured by a thermostat or similar temperature limiter adjacent to the heatable baby seat 25 or otherwise located within the baby carrier 10.

Power to the heatable baby seat 25 is preferably delivered from a rechargeable battery (not shown). Depending upon the power requirements of the heatable baby seat 25 and the consequent size/weight of the battery, the battery may be located underneath the heatable baby seat 25. Preferably, however, the battery is located in the under-carrier storage area 20 and is connected to the heatable baby seat 25 by wires passing within the frame 5 or otherwise fixed to the exterior of the frame 5.

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The rechargeable battery may be charged in a number of ways. It may be disconnected from the heatable baby seat 25 and removed from the storage area 20 for connection to a home power supply or to a power connector in a car, such as the cigarette lighter. Alternatively, a suitable socket for connecting the battery to the power supply may be provided on the frame 5 or the heating control 35 to charge the battery while it is in situ.

The battery may also be charged by one or more dynamos (not shown) located on the wheels 15 of the pushchair 1. The or each dynamo may be, for example, a hub dynamo built into the wheels 15 or a bottle dynamo removably attached to the wheels 15. In mild weather, one or more dynamos may provide sufficient power to heat the heatable baby seat 25 without the need for a battery, thus reducing the overall weight and cost of embodiments of the present invention. Where a battery is necessary to provide sufficient power to the heatable baby seat 25, one or more dynamos may nevertheless extend the life of the battery before it needs a recharge or can keep the charge on the battery topped up when the heatable baby seat 25 is turned off.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described by way of an example only, and it will be recognised that several variations on and combinations of the described features are within the capabilities of a suitable skilled person.

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Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A pushchair comprising a frame including a push-bar for pushing the pushchair and a plurality of wheels, the pushchair further comprising:

an electrically heatable seat;

power generation mean for providing electrical power to the electrically heatable seat; and a heating control located on the push-bar for controlling the heating provided by the electrically heatable seat.

2. The pushchair of claim 1 wherein the power generation means comprises a rechargeable battery.

3. The pushchair of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the power generation means comprises at least one dynamo, the or each dynamo coupled to a wheel of the pushchair for generating power from movement of the pushchair.

4. A heating device for a pushchair comprising:

an electrically heatable seat positionable in baby seating area of a pushchair; and at least one dynamo couplable to a wheel of the pushchair for generating electrical energy to power the electrically heatable seat in response to movement of the pushchair.

5. The heating device of claim 4 further comprising a rechargeable battery, the battery for providing electrical energy to the electrically heatable seat and rechargeable by the or each dynamo.

6. The heating device of claim 4 or claim 5 further comprising a heating control fixable to a push-bar of the pushchair for controlling the heating provided by the electrically heatable seat.

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7. A pushchair comprising the heating device of any of claims 4 to 6 .

8. A pushchair substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

9. A heating device for a pushchair substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.