GB2608514A

GB2608514A - Child support apparatus and juvenile support assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2608514A
Application number: GB2210353.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sun Mingxing
Original assignee: Wonderland Switzerland AG
Current assignee: Wonderland Switzerland AG
Priority date: 2019-03-20
Filing date: 2020-03-18
Publication date: 2023-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 2040-03-18
Also published as: GB202306336D0; GB2596416A; JP6983940B2; GB2608514B; GB202210353D0; JP2022040116A; JP2020152373A; GB2596416B; GB2583410B; CN111717266A; GB202108230D0; DE102020107764A1; GB202003942D0; JP2023095963A; GB2616533B; GB2583410A; GB2616533A; JP7279144B2

Abstract

A child support apparatus 200 includes a standing frame 201, and a juvenile support assembly (100, see fig.2) supported on the standing frame and adapted to receive a child. The juvenile support assembly includes a front seat portion 10 and a rear seat portion 20 pivotally connected with each other, and a cushioning portion 40 extending at an underside of the front seat portion and the rear seat portion, the front seat portion and the rear seat portion being foldable toward each other, wherein an underside of the front seat portion has a catching portion. The cushioning portion includes a resilient wire (41, see fig.6) that is inserted into the catching portion. The resilient wire may comprise a plurality of bent portions between the two ends that allow elastic deformation of the wire in an upward or downward direction. The support assembly may comprise a backrest frame 203 having two side portions and a transversal portion connected together. Finally, the front seat portion and the rear seat portion may be respectively supported in connected with the cushioning portion in an unfolded state, and the rear seat portion is rotated away from the cushioning portion in the folded state.

Description

CHILD SUPPORT APPARATUS AND JUVENILE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

100011 This application is a divisional application of GB application no. 2108230.0 filed on June 9,202], which is a divisional application of GB application no. 2003942.6 filed on March 18, 2020, which claims priority to China patent application no. 201910214213.7 filed on March 20, 2019.

BACKGROUND

lo 100021 1. Field of the Invention

100031 The present invention relates to child support apparatuses.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

100051 Child strollers can be used to conveniently transport babies and children for outdoor activities. Typical design needs for a child stroller may include a seat portion that can provide adequate support for a child, and a frame structure that can be conveniently and safely operated for folding and unfolding and have a compact size in a folded state. However, the seat portion of most child strollers available on the market cannot be reduced in size, which may limit the folding of the child strollers.

[0006] Therefore there is a need for an improved design that can provide a comfortable environment for receiving a child during use, and can address at least the foregoing issues

SUMMARY

[0007] The present application describes a child support apparatus and a juvenile support assembly that can provide a more comfortable support for a child. According to an embodiment, a child support apparatus described herein includes a standing frame, and a juvenile support assembly supported on the standing frame and adapted to receive a child. The juvenile support assembly includes a front seat portion and a rear seat portion pivotally connected with each other, and a cushioning portion extending at an underside of the front seat portion and the rear seat portion, the front seat portion and the rear seat portion being foldable toward each other, wherein an underside of the front seat portion has a catching portion, and the cushioning portion includes a resilient wire that is inserted into the catching portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a child support apparatus; [0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the child support apparatus of FIG. 1 under another angle of view, [0010] FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the child support apparatus shown in FIG. [0011] FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the child support apparatus of FIG. I in a folded state; 100121 FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a juvenile support assembly provided in the child support apparatus; 100131 FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the juvenile support assembly of FIG. under another angle of view; 100141 FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of portion A shown in FIG. 6. and 100151 FIGS. 8-10 are perspective views illustrating exemplary folding operation of the child support apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

100161 The present application describes a child support apparatus that includes a standing frame, and a juvenile support assembly supported on the standing frame. The juvenile support assembly includes a front seat portion, a rear seat portion arid a backrest frame, the rear seat portion being respectively connected pivotally with the front seat portion and the backrest frame, wherein the front seat portion and the rear seat portion can be folded toward each other and unfolded for use. The front and rear seat portions can thereby provide a larger seat area for a child that can be folded for compact storage. Moreover, the juvenile support assembly described herein may include a cushioning portion extending at an underside of the front seat portion and the rear seat portion, the rear seat portion being rotatable relative to the front seat portion and the cushioning portion between an unfolded state and a folded state, and the cushioning portion providing a bearing support for the front seat portion and the rear seat portion in the unfolded state that is elastically deformable along an upward-downward direction of the child support apparatus. Accordingly, comfortable support can be provided for a child sifting on the front and rear seat portions. Embodiments of the child support apparatus described herein include child stroller apparatuses. However, it will be appreciated that the features of the juvenile support assembly described herein may be implemented in any types of child support apparatuses, which include, without limitation, child stroller apparatuses, child motion apparatuses such as infant swings or rockers, and the like.

100171 FIGS. 1 and 2 are two perspective views illustrating a child support apparatus 200 implemented as a child stroller apparatus embodiment, FIGS. 3 and 4 are two side views respectively illustrating the child support apparatus 200 in an unfolded and a folded state, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are two perspective views illustrating a juvenile support assembly 100 provided in the child support apparatus 200. Referring to FIGS. 1-6, the child support apparatus 200 can include a standing frame 201, a handle frame 2013 connected with the standing frame 201, and a juvenile support assembly 100 supported on the standing frame 201 and adapted to receive a child in a sitting position.

100181 The standing frame 201 can include two leg frames 2011 and 2012 connected with two side linking parts 2081, the leg frame 2011 being exemplarily a front leg frame and the leg frame 2012 being exemplarily a rear leg frame. Each of the leg frames 2011 and 2012 can respectively include two side segments disposed symmetrically at a left and a right side of the standing frame 201, e.g., two side segments 2011A for the leg frame 2011 and two side segments 2012A for the leg frame 2012. At each of the left and right sides, the side segment 2011A of the leg frame 2011 and the side segment 2012A of the leg frame 2012 can be respectively coupled pivotally to one side linking part 2081, so that the side linking parts 2081 and the leg frames 2011 and 2012 can rotate relative to one another during folding and unfolding of the child support apparatus 200. According to an example of construction, the side segment 2011A of the leg frame 2011 and the side segment 2012A of the leg frame 2012 can be respectively coupled pivotally to the side linking part 2081 about a common pivot axis at each of the left and right sides. According to another example of construction, the side segment 2011A of the leg frame 2011 and the side segment 2012A of the leg frame 2012 can be respectively coupled pivotally to the side linking part 2081 about two different pivot axes at each of the left and right sides. Moreover, the two leg frames 2011 and 2012 can respectively have wheel assemblies 204 and 205 for facilitating displacement of the child support apparatus 200 on a floor surface.

100191 Referring again to FIGS. 1-3, the handle frame 2013 can be pivotally coupled to the standing frame 201 via two linking bars 2083. According to an example of construction, the handle frame 2013 can include two side portions 2013A disposed symmetrically at the left and right sides, and a grip portion 2013B connected with the two side portions 2013A. At each of the left and right sides, the side portion 2013A of the handle frame 2013 may be coupled to the side segment 2012A of the leg frame 2012 via the linking bar 2083, two opposite ends of the linking bar 2083 being respectively coupled pivotally to the side portion 2013A of the handle frame 2013 via a pivot connection P5 and to the side segment 2012A of the leg frame 2012 via a pivot connection P6.

100201 Referring again to FIGS. 1-6, the standing frame 201 can be provided with a bearing frame portion 202 for attachment of the juvenile support assembly 100. The bearing frame portion 202 can include two side bar portions 2021 respectively disposed at the left and right sides of the juvenile support assembly 100, and one or more transversal bar 2022 fixedly connected with the two side bar portions 2021. The transversal bar 2022 may help to add stability and strength for the bearing frame portion 202. Each side bar portion 2021 can be respectively coupled pivotally to the standing frame 201 and to a carrier bar 2082. For example, a pivot connection P7 can couple one end of the side bar portion 2021 to the corresponding side segment 2011A of the leg frame 2011 at an intermediate location between an upper and a lower end of the side segment 2011A. Moreover, the side bar portion 2021 can be pivotally coupled to the carrier bar 2082 via the same pivot connection P5 that pivotally couples the side portion 2013A of the handle frame 2013 to the linking bar 2083. For example, the pivot connection P5 can pivotally couple one another the side portion 2013A of the handle frame 2013, the linking bar 2083, the carrier bar 2082 and the side bar portion 2021 which are disposed adjacent to one another in this sequential order from an inner side to an outer side of the standing frame 201. Accordingly, the side portion 2013A of the handle frame 2013, the linking bar 2083, the carrier bar 2082 and the side bar portion 2021 can be pivotally connected with one another about a common pivot axis defined by the pivot connection P5 at each of the left and right sides of the child support apparatus 200. The carrier bar 2082 can further be pivotally coupled to the side linking part 2081 via a pivot connection P8 at a location distant from the pivot connection P5.

100211 in the aforementioned frame construction, the side linking part 2081, the carrier bar 2082 and the linking bar 2083 provided at each of the left and right sides can form a linking structure 208 that is coupled to the standing frame 201, the handle frame 2013 and the bearing frame portion 202 for facilitating folding and unfolding of the child support apparatus 200 Moreover, the handle frame 2013 may be adjusted between two distinct positions for pushing the child support apparatus 200 in different directions with a child facing forward or rearward. For example, the handle frame 2013 is shown in FIGS 1-3 in a position for pushing the child support apparatus 200 in a direction with a child facing forward. In this position, the handle frame 2013 may be locked to the carrier bar 2082 at a location distant from the pivot connection P5, e.g., via a latching part 2018 provided on the side portion 2013A of the handle frame 2013.

100221 In conjunction with FIGS. 1-3, FIGS. 5 and 6 are two perspective views illustrating the juvenile support assembly 100, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of portion A shown in FIG. 6. Referring to FIGS. 1-3 and 5-7, the juvenile support assembly 100 is supported on the standing frame 201, and is attached to the bearing frame portion 202.

The juvenile support assembly 100 can include a cushioning portion 40, a front seat portion 10, a rear seat portion 20, a backrest frame 203, two side guards 206 and a head guard 207.

100231 Referring to FIGS. 1-3, 5 and 6, the cushioning portion 40 can extend at an underside of the front seat portion 10 and the rear seat portion 20, and can provide a bearing support for the front seat portion 10 and the rear seat portion 20 that is elastically deformable along an upward-downward direction V of the child support apparatus 200. According to an example of construction, the cushioning portion 40 can include a resilient wire 41. Examples of materials for the resilient wire 41 can include, without limitation, steel, metallic alloys, plastic, or any other suitable materials capable of elastic deformation. The resilient wire 41 can extend between the left and right sides of the juvenile support assembly 100 with two opposite ends 41A of the resilient wire 41 being respectively connected fixedly with the two side bar portions 2021 of the bearing frame portion 202 via two joining parts 42. Each joining part 42 may be exemplarily fastened or welded to the side bar portion 2021, and the corresponding end 41A of the resilient wire 41 may be fastened to the joining part 42.

100241 The front seat portion 10 may be fixedly connected with the resilient wire 41, and pivotally connected with the rear seat portion 20 via a pivot joint 30 The pivot joint 30 can exemplarily include one or more pivot mounts 11 provided on the front seat portion 10 adjacent to a rear end thereof, one or more pivot mounts 21 provided on the rear seat portion 20 adjacent to a front end thereof, and a shaft portion 31 passing through the pivot mounts 11 and 21, whereby defining a pivot axis extending transversally relative to the front seat portion 10 and the rear seat portion 20. The pivot mounts 11 and 21 may be disposed in an alternate way along the pivot axis defined by the shaft portion 31.

190251 The resilient wire 41 can provide a bearing support for the front seat portion and the rear seat portion 20 that is elastically deformable along the upward-downward direction V of the child support apparatus 200. According to an example of construction, an underside of the front seat portion 10 can include catching portions 43, and the resilient wire 41 can be attached to the front seat portion 10 by inserting into and engaging with the catching portions 43. The resilient wire 41 can extend from the underside of the front seat portion 10 to the underside of the rear seat portion 20 behind the pivot joint 30, and can include a plurality of bent portions between the two opposite ends 41A that respectively form a plurality of hinges allowing elastic deflection of the resilient wire 41 along the upward-downward direction V. For example, the resilient wire 41 may bend upward from the two side bar portions 2021, include two sections extending longitudinally from the underside of the front seat portion 10 to the underside of the rear seat portion 20, and include a transverse portion extending along a width direction of the rear seat portion 20 Although the resilient wire 41 is shown as having a specific shape in FIG. 6, it will be appreciated that other shapes may be suitable to allow elastic deflection of the resilient wire 41 along the upward-downward direction V. 100261 With the aforementioned construction, the rear seat portion 20 can rotate relative to the front seat portion 10 and the cushioning portion 40 between an unfolded state and a folded state. More specifically, the front seat portion 10 and the rear seat portion 20 can extend substantially along a same plane and can be respectively supported in contact with the cushioning portion 40 in the unfolded state, and the rear seat portion 20 can be rotated relative to the front seat portion 10 away from a rear portion of the cushioning portion 40 in the folded state. For example, the rear seat portion 20 can rest in contact with a rear section 41B of the resilient wire 41 located behind the pivot joint 30 in the unfolded state, and can be rotated away from the rear section 41B of the resilient wire 41 in the folded state.

100271 Referring to FIGS. 5-7, the pivot joint 30 may further include one or a plurality of springs 32 adapted to provide a biasing force for facilitating unfolding of the rear seat portion 20 relative to the front seat portion 10. For example, the spring 32 may be a torsion spring that is disposed around the shaft portion 31 and is respectively connected with the front seat portion 10 and the rear seat portion 20.

100281 According to an example of construction, the shaft portion 31 may disposed through two pivot mounts 11 provided on the front seat portion 10 and one pivot mount 21 provided on the rear seat portion 20 between the two pivot mounts 11, and the spring 32 can be coiled around the shaft portion 31 at two sides of the pivot mount 21. The spring 32 can have two end prongs 321 respectively attached to two anchor portions 33 respectively affixed to the front seat portion 10, and an intermediate tab portion 322 between the two end prongs 321 that is attached to an anchor portion 34 affixed to the rear seat portion 20. For example, each end prong 321 can be hooked onto the corresponding anchor portion 33, which can have a hook shape including two bend portions 331 and 332 connected with each other, the bend portion 331 protruding substantially perpendicular from an underside surface of the front seat portion 10 and the bend portion 332 projecting substantially perpendicular or tilted an angle from the bend portion 331. Likewise, the intermediate tab portion 322 can be hooked onto the anchor portion 34, which can have a hook shape including two bend portions 341 and 342 connected with each other, the bend portion 341 protruding from the pivot mount 21 substantially parallel to an underside surface of the rear seat portion 20 and the bend portion 342 projecting substantially perpendicular or tilted an angle from the bend portion 341.

100291 Referring to FIGS. 1-0, the backrest frame 203 is pivotally connected with the rear seat portion 20 so that the backrest frame 203 can rotate relative to the rear seat portion 20. For example, the backrest frame 203 can include two side portions 203A and a transversal portion 203B connected together, and each of the two side portions 203A can be pivotally connected with the rear seat portion 20 via a pivot connection P4. The two side guards 206 can extend alongside the two side portions 203A of the backrest frame 203, and the head guard 207 can extend transversally along the transversal portion 203B of the backrest frame 203 Each side guard 206 can be respectively connected pivotally with the corresponding carrier bar 2082 via a pivot connection P1 and with the head guard 207 via a pivot connection P2. Moreover, the head guard 207 can be pivotally connected with the transversal portion 203B of the backrest frame 203 via a pivot connection P3 [0030] In conjunction with FIGS. 1-3 and 5-7, FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the child support apparatus 200 in a folded state, and FIGS. 8-10 are perspective views illustrating exemplary folding operation of the child support apparatus 200. When the child support apparatus 200 is in an unfolded state for use, the front seat portion 10 and the rear seat portion 20 can be unfolded from each other and extend generally along a same plane for receiving a child in a sitting or recline position. Moreover, the side linking part 2081, the carrier bar 2082 and the linking bar 2083 of the linking structure 208 can be expanded, the pivot connection PS is located above the pivot connection P4, and the pivot connection P6 is located below the pivot connection P4.

[0031] When the child support apparatus 200 is to be folded, the leg frame 2011 and the handle frame 2013 can rotate and fold toward the leg frame 2012, which can urge the bearing frame portion 202 and the backrest frame 203 to fold toward the leg frame 2012 at two opposite sides of the leg frame 2012. As a result, the front seat portion 10 and the rear seat portion 20 can be urged to rotate and fold toward each other, while the pivot connections P6 and P4 can move upward relative to the pivot connection P5 until the pivot connection P6 reaches a highest position above and in front of the pivot connection P5 and the pivot connection P4 is located above and behind the pivot connection PS. The child support apparatus 200 thereby folded can have a compact size for convenient storage.

[0032] Advantages of the child support apparatus described herein include the ability to provide cushioning support and a larger seat area for a child that can be folded for compact storage Accordingly, the child support apparatus can be more comfortable during use.

[0033] Realizations of the child support apparatus have been described in the context of particular embodiments. These embodiments are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the inventions as defined in the claims that follow.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A child support apparatus comprising: a standing frame; and a juvenile support assembly supported on the standing frame and adapted to receive a child, wherein the juvenile support assembly includes: a front seat portion and a rear seat portion pivotally connected with each other, the front seat portion and the rear seat portion being foldable toward each other, an underside of the front seat portion having a catching portion; and a cushioning portion extending at an underside of the front seat portion and the rear seat portion, the cushioning portion including a resilient wire that is inserted into the catching portion.
2. The child support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the standing frame is provided with two side bar portions, and the resilient wire has two opposite ends respectively connected fixedly with the two side bar portions via two joining parts.
3. The child support apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the two joining parts are respectively fastened or welded to the two side bar portions.
The child support apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the resilient wire includes a plurality of bent portions between the two opposite ends thereof that allow elastic deformation of the resilient wire along an upward-downward direction, the resilient wire bending upward from the two side bar portions.
5. The child support apparatus according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the standing frame includes a leg frame having two side segments respectively disposed at a left and a right side of the standing frame, and the two side bar portions are respectively connected pivotally with the two side segments of the leg frame.
6. The child support apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the resilient wire includes two sections extending longitudinally from the underside of the front seat portion to the underside of the rear seat portion, and a transverse portion extending along a width direction of the rear seat portion.
7. The child support apparatus according to any one of claims I to 6, wherein the front seat portion and the rear seat portion are respectively supported in contact with the cushioning portion in the unfolded state, and the rear seat portion is rotated away from the cushioning portion in the folded state.
8. The child support apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the juvenile support assembly further includes a backrest frame having two side portions and a transversal portion connected together, a head guard pivotally connected with the transversal portion of the backrest frame, and two side guards that respectively extend alongside the two side portions of the backrest frame and are respectively connected pivotally with the head guard 9, The child support apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further including a handle frame pivotally coupled to the standing frame via two linking structures respectively provided at a left and a right side of the child support apparatus, the handle frame being adjustable relative to the standing frame between two positions for pushing the child support apparatus in different directions with a child facing forward or rearward.10, The child support apparatus according to any one of claims I to 9, being implemented as a child stroller apparatus.