GB2552197A

GB2552197A - A Pushchair with A reversible seat

Info

Publication number: GB2552197A
Application number: GB1612187.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kembrey Footit Robert; Nicholas Adams Jonathan
Original assignee: Tendercare Ltd
Current assignee: Tendercare Ltd
Priority date: 2016-07-13
Filing date: 2016-07-13
Publication date: 2018-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 2036-07-13
Also published as: GB201612187D0; GB2552197B

Abstract

A pushchair frame comprising a chassis 10, a seat mount 12 rotatably mounted on the chassis, and a push handle 14 pivotally connected to the chassis wherein the seat mount is additionally tiltable. The push handle may be pivotably connected to a part of the chassis which does not rotate with the seat mount, the seat mount may be rotatably mounted on the chassis through a tubular passage in the chassis and it may be lockable in two or more configurations. The frame may comprise a gas spring to allow the seat mount to be tilted, and the chassis may be made from aluminium tubing having a wall thickness of 2mm or more. Also provided is a method of reversing the direction of a seat in a pushchair as described above.

Description

(71) Applicant(s):

Tendercare Limited (56) Documents Cited:

GB 2430414 A CN 203172685 U US 20130069327 A1

CN 204915781 U US 6513827 B1 US 20090160162 A1

Minster Court, Courtwick Lane, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 7RN, United Kingdom (72) Inventor(s):

(58) Field of Search:

INT CL B62B Other: EPODOC, WPI

Robert Kembrey Footit Jonathan Nicholas Adams (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:

Schlich

St. Catherine's Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 5HS, United Kingdom (54) Title of the Invention: A Pushchair with A reversible seat Abstract Title: Pushchair with a reversible seat (57) A pushchair frame comprising a chassis 10, a seat mount 12 rotatably mounted on the chassis, and a push handle 14 pivotally connected to the chassis wherein the seat mount is additionally tiltable. The push handle may be pivotably connected to a part of the chassis which does not rotate with the seat mount, the seat mount may be rotatably mounted on the chassis through a tubular passage in the chassis and it may be lockable in two or more configurations. The frame may comprise a gas spring to allow the seat mount to be tilted, and the chassis may be made from aluminium tubing having a wall thickness of 2mm or more. Also provided is a method of reversing the direction of a seat in a pushchair as described above.

FIGURE 1

This print incorporates corrections made under Section 117(1) of the Patents Act 1977.

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FIGURE 1

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FIGURE 2

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FIGURE 3

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FIGURE 5

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FIGURE 7

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FIGURE 8

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FIGURE 9

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FIGURE 10

- 1 A PUSHCHAIR WITH A REVERSIBLE SEAT

Introduction

The present invention relates to a pushchair with a reversible seat and more particularly a pushchair where the seat can be reversed whilst the seat is occupied by a child. Such pushchairs can be, but are not exclusively, wheeled mobility devices for use as seats in motor vehicles.

Background of the Invention

Pushchairs are generally configured so that the seat, and the occupant, are either facing in a forward direction or a rearward direction (relative to the direction of travel).

Pushchairs may however be fitted with reversible seats that allow the user to change the direction that the seat faces.

Pushchairs with reversible seats are particularly desirable for children with physical movement disabilities, especially those who require specialised postural seating products. In accordance with certain legislation, e.g. ISO 7176-19: 2008, in force in the

UK, when transporting children in motor vehicles the seat should be in a forward-facing direction relative to the direction of travel. However, it may also be desirable for the seat to also be in a rearward-facing direction so that the parent/carer can see the child when using the pushchair.

A number of pushchairs with reversible or rotatable seats are known. However, these pushchairs suffer from a number of disadvantages.

One known pushchair allows the direction of the seat to be reversed by removing it from the chassis, rotating it and clipping it back on, so that it faces the opposite direction (“seat removal method”). However, this can be difficult to do when the child is present in the seat. Whilst in some cases, the child can be removed from the seat while the seat is reversed this may not be a viable option for children with movement disabilities. For children who require the support of their seat at all times, reversing the seat in these pushchairs is very difficult to do without multiple carers present.

-2 Other known pushchairs have seats that can be reversed, with the child occupying the seat, by rotating the entire top section of the pushchair, including the seat, upper mid frame and push handle assembly. These suffer from the disadvantages that the arrangement doubles the middle frame of the product, increasing the production cost and complexity for manufacturing. Furthermore, the increased component count compared to standard products means these chairs are usually significantly heavier.

In addition, the push handles in these pushchairs have to be moved over the child’s head during the reversal procedure, which could pose a potential safety hazard. Furthermore, the fact the push handles have to function in two operating positions (depending on whether the seat is forward-facing or rearward facing) means any adjustment mechanism for altering the length or angle of the push handle must function symmetrically. Usually this results in the use of telescoping handles for height adjustment of the handles, which have a very limited adjustment range compared to standard angle adjustment handle joints.

Therefore, there exists the need for a more convenient to use pushchair with a reversible seat, in particular one that allows the seat to be reversed with a child in the seat, that is also easier to manufacture, and especially one that also complies with ISO 7179-19: 2008.

Summary ofthe Invention

The inventors of the present invention have found that at least some of the above problems associated with existing pushchairs with reversible seats can be solved by separating the push handle from the rotation mechanism, so the seat can rotate independently ofthe push handle.

The invention therefore provides a pushchair with the ability to switch the seat from forward facing (child facing away from the parent/carer) to rearward facing (facing the parent/carer) with the occupant remaining in the seat during the reversal process.

Accordingly, in a first aspect of the invention there is provided a pushchair frame comprising:

-3a chassis:

a seat mount rotatably mounted on the chassis; and a push handle pivotably connected to the chassis.

A seat may be attached to the seat mount. The seat may be of standard construction for pushchairs/wheeled mobility devices. It is attached conventionally to the mount, permanently or removably. The seat may incorporate the mount. Neither the mount nor the seat is a feature of the invention.

The push handle is not directly connected to the seat mount. Instead, the push handle is pivotably connected to a part of the chassis which does not rotate when the seat mount is rotated. The push handle therefore moves independently of the rotating seat.

The seat mount is rotatable about an axis through the base of an attached seat (in other words, generally about an axis approximately perpendicular to the ground when the pushchair is in use). The seat mount may be mounted on the chassis through a tubular passage in the chassis. The seat mount may also have one or more locking members to secure the seat mount in two or more (preferably two) rotated configurations. The locking members may take the form of spring-loaded bolts attached to the chassis, which engage with holes or openings in the rotating seat mount. Preferably, the seat mount can be locked in both a front facing direction and a rear facing direction.

An advantage of the invention is that an attached seat can be reversed while the push handle remains on the same side of the pushchair (the rear side relative to the direction of travel). The handle, therefore, does not have to travel over the top of the attached seat and occupant during reversal of the seat. This provides a safer seat reversal arrangement than in known pushchairs, where the occupant could be injured by the moving push handle. In addition, as the push handle is always used on the same side of the pushchair, the handle need not be symmetric. As discussed above, symmetric handles suffer from the disadvantage that the adjustment range of the handle is limited. With the pushchair frame of the present invention, a full range of adjustable push handle assemblies commonly used in conventional non-rotating pushchairs, and often asymmetric, can be used.

-4Accordingly, the push handle may be pivotably connected to the chassis with two arms. The push handle may be connected to the arms through pivotable joints. The pushchair frame may further comprise clamps or locks (for example, toggle clamps) to allow the angle of the arms (and therefore the angle of the push handle) to be adjusted and then secured at a desired angle relative to the chassis.

The seat mount may also be tiltable or reclinable. This allows an attached seat to be tilted before rotation, so that the seat can be rotated without parts of the pushchair or protruding limbs of the child obstructing rotation

The pushchair of the invention may further comprise a gas spring to assist the seat mount to be tilted. The gas spring may be mounted to the chassis in a vertical position (i.e. a position perpendicular to the ground when the pushchair is in use). Preferably, the gas spring remains in a vertical position when the seat mount is tilted. The seat mount may be fitted with curved-tracks which are connected to the top of the gas spring to convert the linear motion of the gas spring to a rotational I pivotal motion of the seat mount.

The pushchair chassis may be made from a metallic material, such as aluminium or steel. Preferably, the pushchair chassis is made from aluminium tubing, where the tubing has a wall thickness of 2 mm or more (preferably 3 mm or more).

In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a pushchair comprising a frame of the invention as described herein and a seat, e.g. attached to or as part of the seat mount.

The invention also provides a method of reversing the direction of a seat in a pushchair frame described herein with a seat attached to the seat mount comprising the following steps:

a) lowering the handles of the pushchair;

b) rotating the seat to reverse its direction; and

c) raising the handles of the pushchair.

The method may further comprise tilting the seat to a reclined position in between steps

a) and b) and returning the seat to an upright position between steps b) and c). These

-5additional steps may be required in order to allow the seat to rotate freely without the frame or child hindering rotation of the seat.

The present invention overcomes some of the problems associated with known pushchairs with reversible seats. In particular, by separating the push handles from the rotating portion of the pushchair, this greatly reduces the complexity of the system, and consequently reduces the manufacturing costs, number of components and weight of the product compared to a pushchair where both the seat and handle are rotated together.

In addition, the separate handle system means the handles can be lowered and raised again on the same side of the pushchair. This means the handles only have one locked position rather than two on the known designs, meaning that standard handle joints can be used. This is advantageous as it allows a greater adjustment range compared to using a telescoping handle.

A further advantage is that the push handle assembly doesn’t need to move past the child in the seat, which reduces the risk of entrapment compared to the other approach where the handles have to move fully past the seat and occupant.

In preferred embodiments, the invention provides a wheeled mobility device, e.g. complying with ISO 7176-19:2008, comprising the frame or the pushchair of the invention.

Further aspects and embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the claims appended hereto and the apparatus illustrated in the drawings and described below.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a pushchair according to one embodiment of the invention with the seat mount in a forward-facing configuration.

Figure 2 is a side view of the pushchair shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows the seat mount of the pushchair in more detail.

Figure 4 shows the seat mount in an exploded view.

Figure 5 shows the pushchair with the handle bar lowered.

Figure 6 shows the pushchair with the handle bar lowered and the seat mount tilted.

-6Figure 7 shows the pushchair with the handle bar lowered, the seat mount tilted and the seat mount rotated to a rearward-facing direction.

Figure 8 shows the pushchair with the handle bar lowered, the seat mount un-tilited and the seat mount rotated to a rearward-facing direction.

Figure 9 shows the pushchair with the handle bar raised and the seat mount rotated to a rearward-facing direction.

Figure 10 is a side view of the pushchair in the same configuration shown in Figure 9.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention will now be described but not limited by reference to the specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 to 10.

The pushchair frame comprises a chassis (10), a seat mount (12) and a push handle (14).

The chassis is formed from two sections - a front frame assembly (16) and a rear frame assembly (18). Throughout the application, the terms front and rear are relative to the direction of travel when the pushchair is in use. The push handle is generally, if not always, at the rear of the pushchair to allow the pushchair to be pushed.

The front frame assembly (16) and rear frame assembly (18) are pivotably connected via two hinge assemblies. This allows the chassis to be folded away when the seat has been removed and the pushchair is not in use. The chassis is fitted with arc shaped tracks (20) that allow the front and rear frame assembly to be folded, once the seat has been removed, to reduce the overall size of the pushchair frame to facilitate transportation of the frame. Other mechanisms for folding pushchairs are well known to those skilled in the art.

The chassis has a total of 4 wheels (22). Two larger wheels are attached to the rear frame assembly and 2 smaller wheels are attached to the front frame assembly. The rear wheels are also fitted with a brake mechanism (not shown in detail). Brake mechanisms for pushchairs are common and well known to those skilled in the art.

-7 The chassis is fitted with a tubular socket (24) in which the seat mount (12) is located. The seat mount comprises a swirl plate (26) with a hollow mounting tube (28) passing through the centre of the swirl plate and extending downwardly from one side. The mounting tube (28) is receivable in the tubular socket (24) and allows the swirl plate to be rotated relative to the chassis.

The swirl plate (26) is also provided with two smaller holes (29) at opposite sides of the swirl plate. A spring-loaded bolt (30) is attached to the chassis and aligns with one of the smaller holes (29) on the swirl plate to lock the swirl plate in position to prevent unwanted rotation.

The seat mount is also tiltable to allow the seat to recline from an upright position (i.e. where the base of the seat is approximately parallel to the ground) to a reclined position. Inside the hollow mounting tube (28) is a gas strut (34) which supports the weight of the seat/child and thus assists the seat mount to be tilted. The top of the gas strut is connected to the mounting platform through arc shaped tracks (36). The shape of the tracks converts the linear motion of the gas strut to a tilting motion of the mounting platform to allow the mounting platform to rotate about its pivot point where the mounting platform is pivotably connected to the seat mount.

The push handle (14) is connected to the chassis by two pivotable handle joints (40) and two arms (38). The handle joints (40) are positioned between the push handle (14) and the arms (38) and allow for the angle of the push handle (14) relative to the arms (38) to be adjusted. Each arm (38) is also pivotably connected to the chassis (10) and fitted with a toggle clamp (42). When tightened, the push handle cannot be pivoted. When loosened, the push handle can be pivoted from a “strolling position” to a “lowered position”. The push handle is not directly connected to the seat mount. Therefore, the seat can be rotated independently without the push handle being rotated.

The seat can be rotated with an occupant sitting in the seat, without the push handle moving and without hindrance to the rotation of the chair or danger to the occupant.

In use, a seat is connected to a mounting platform. Typically, the seat and mounting platform are configured so that they can only be connected in a single direction or

-8configuration. This prevents the seat being mounted on the seat mount in the wrong direction resulting in the seat being tiltable in a forward direction, which could be a danger to the child.

When the seat needs to be rotated, the brake mechanism on the rear wheels is set to 5 prevent movement of the pushchair during rotation of the seat. The two toggle clamps on the handle arms are then released to allow the push handle to pivot downwards independently of the rotation of the seat (Figure 5). The seat can then be tilted back by operating the gas-strut (Figure 6).

With the seat tilted back, the spring-loaded bolt is then released from the swirl plate to 10 allow the seat mount to rotate. The seat and occupant can then be rotated 180° from a forward-facing direction to a rearward-facing direction, or vice versa (Figure 7). Once the swirl plate has rotated 180° the spring-loaded bolt then aligns with the other smaller hole in the swirl plate to lock the seat mount in position and prevent further unwanted rotation.

As a result of the push handle being in a lowered position, the seat can be fully rotated 15 without interfering or obstruction from any part of the pushchair frame or the occupant.

The seat can then be tilted back to an upright position, as desired (Figure 8) and the push handle is raised and secured at the desired angle with the push handle clamps (Figure

9).

This process can be repeated (in reverse) to convert the seat from rearward-facing 20 direction to a forward-facing direction.

Accordingly, the invention provides an improved pushchair frame for reversing the direction of the seat. It will readily be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations could be made to the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 10 without departing from the principles underlying the invention and all such modifications and alterations are intended to be embraced by this application.

Claims

1. A pushchair frame comprising:

a chassis;

2. A pushchair frame according to claim 1 wherein the push handle is pivotably connected to a part of the chassis which does not rotate when the seat mount is rotated.

3. A pushchair frame according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the seat mount is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the ground.

4. A pushchair frame according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the seat mount is rotatably mounted on the chassis through a tubular passage in the chassis.

5. A pushchair frame according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the seat mount can be locked into two or more configurations.

6. A pushchair frame according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the seat mount is additionally tiltable.

7. A pushchair frame according to claim 6 further comprising a gas spring to allow the seat mount to be tilted.

8. A pushchair frame according to claim 7 wherein the gas spring is in a vertical position.

9. A pushchair frame according to claim 8 wherein the gas spring remains in a vertical position when the seat mount is tilted.

10. A pushchair frame according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the chassis is made from aluminium tubing having a wall thickness of 2mm or more (preferably 3mm or more).

11. A pushchair frame substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings Figures 1 to 10.

-10 12. A pushchair comprising a frame according to any one of claims 1 to 11 and a seat.

13. A wheeled mobility device complying with ISO 7179-19: 2008 comprising a frame according to any one of claims 1 to 11 or a pushchair according to claim 12.

14. A method of reversing the direction of a seat in a pushchair according to claim 12 5 or a wheeled mobility device according to claim 13 comprising the following steps:

a) lowering the handles of the pushchair;

b) rotating the seat to reverse its direction; and

c) raising the handles of the pushchair.

Amendments to the claims have been made as followed:

Q3 01 17

1. A pushchair frame comprising:

a chassis;

a seat mount rotatably mounted on the chassis; and 5 a push handle pivotably connected to the chassis wherein the seat mount is additionally tiltable.

3. A pushchair frame according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the seat mount is 10 rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the ground.

5 6. A pushchair frame according to claim 1 further comprising a gas spring to allow the seat mount to be tilted.

7. A pushchair frame according to claim 6 wherein the gas spring is in a vertical position.

8. A pushchair frame according to claim 7 wherein the gas spring remains in a vertical 20 position when the seat mount is tilted.

9. A pushchair frame according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the chassis is made from aluminium tubing having a wall thickness of 2mm or more.

10. A pushchair comprising a frame according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and a seat.

11. A wheeled mobility device complying with ISO 7179-19: 2008 comprising a frame 25 according to any one of claims 1 to 9 or a pushchair according to claim 10.

12. A method of reversing the direction of a seat in a pushchair according to claim 10 or a wheeled mobility device according to claim 11 comprising the following steps:

a) lowering the handles of the pushchair;

b) rotating the seat to reverse its direction; and

5 c) raising the handles of the pushchair.

03 01 17

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: Claims searched:

GB1612187.3

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