JP2004131018A - Self-supporting mechanism of folding stroller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a self-supporting mechanism of a folding stroller with a simple structure, superior in stability and strength to conventional one. <P>SOLUTION: In this self-supporting mechanism of a folding stroller, right and left rear leg parts and/or right and left front leg parts of a vehicle frame are constituted foldable in a direction for respectively approaching to each other. The mechanism is equipped with a stand member laterally bridging between the right and left front leg parts or the right and left rear leg parts. The stand member is equipped with a folding structure folded downward in an approximately V-shape at a center along with a folding movement of the leg parts in a right and left width direction. A bottom of a center part has a supporting part for grounding when the stand member is folded into an approximately V-shape, and self-supporting a stroller in a folding condition. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stand mechanism for allowing a foldable stroller to stand on its own when folded.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, foldable strollers that can be folded down when not in use have become popular. In a normal stroller folding method, frame members such as a frame rod that forms grips such as front and rear legs and handles that constitute the body frame are bundled together and folded as a whole into a slender body as a whole. It has become a target.
[0003]
The stroller folded in a slender manner in this way occupies a small area when placed upright, and the assembling operation at the time of use is easy to start and efficient. However, it is easy to fall down simply by leaning against a wall or the like in order to place it upright, and it cannot be leaned when there is no target such as a wall. Therefore, there has been an increasing number of stand-alone stands for folding the stroller in a folded state.
[0004]
For example, a rod-shaped stand such as a bicycle stand is rotatably mounted on one of the rear legs, and is positioned at a retracted position where there is no hindrance in traveling when used, and the tip is grounded when folded. There is an apparatus in which a stand is rotated and a stroller body is supported by a wheel and a stand in an independent state (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0005]
In some cases, a stand mechanism is provided at the center of the lower part of the vehicle body. For example, a bar-shaped stand is attached to the lower end of the column in a cross shape, and in the assembled state, the stand is rotatably connected to the front legs so that the stand is in a horizontal state. There is one that supports the stroller in a self-supporting state by sliding the other end of the stand to ground by sliding downward (for example, see Patent Document 2).
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-30452 [Patent Document 2]
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-8766
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional self-standing mechanism of the folding stroller, for example, if the stand is rotatably provided on the one rear leg, the stability is poor and the fall is likely to occur. Further, since the load of the stroller body is supported by the wheel and the single thin bar-shaped stand, the load on the stand is easily broken and the life as an independent stand is short. In addition, the grounding of the self-supporting stand requires that the stand be turned by hand or foot separately from the folding operation of the stroller, and the entire folding operation becomes troublesome and complicated. I will.
[0008]
In the case where a stand mechanism is provided in the center and an operation mechanism such as a support column is specially provided, not only the structure itself becomes complicated, but also an operation for grounding the stand separately from the folding operation is required. Not only is it laborious, but the complexity of the design puts a burden on the labor and cost of manufacturing the stroller.
[0009]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a self-standing mechanism for a folding stroller that has a simple configuration and is superior in stability and strength compared to the related art, in view of the above problems.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a self-standing mechanism for a foldable stroller according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a body frame having left and right front legs and left and right rear legs each having a wheel attached to a tip. In the self-supporting mechanism of a folding stroller, the body frame is configured such that the left and right rear legs and / or the left and right front legs can be folded in directions relatively close to each other, and the left and right front legs or the left and right rear A stand member is provided to extend between the left and right leg portions of the leg portion. The stand member is substantially V-shaped downward at a central portion with the folding movement of the leg portion in the left-right width direction. It has a bending structure that can be bent, and a lower portion of the center portion has a support portion for grounding when the stand member is bent in a substantially V-shape to make the folded stroller stand alone. Special It is an.
[0011]
The self-standing mechanism of the folding stroller according to the second aspect of the present invention is the self-standing mechanism of the folding stroller according to the first aspect, wherein the stand member has left and right arms sandwiching the central portion. The portions each have a curved portion bent substantially in the shape of a letter.
[0012]
In the present invention, the body frame of the stroller can be folded so that the left and right rear legs and / or the left and right front legs are relatively close to each other (moving closer to each other and overlapping in parallel). It is composed. In addition, a stand member for allowing the stroller in a folded state to stand on its own is laid on either or both of the left and right rear legs and the left and right front legs across the left and right legs. Here, the left-right direction is a width direction orthogonal to the running direction (front-back direction) of the stroller.
[0013]
The stand member according to the present invention has a structure that can be bent downward in a substantially V-shape at a central portion, and a lower portion of the center portion contacts the ground when the stand member is bent in a substantially V-shape. A support portion is provided for contacting and supporting the stroller in an independent state. Then, in conjunction with the folding operation of the stroller, the stand member is bent in a substantially V shape.
[0014]
That is, in the self-standing mechanism of the present invention, since the load of the stroller is supported by the substantially V-shaped stand member, the stand member is laid horizontally between the left and right legs so that the stand member can be bent. It is much more stable and stronger than the conventional one made of a thin rod-shaped stand member.
[0015]
Further, in the self-standing stand mechanism of the present invention, at the time of assembling the stroller (at the time of use), the support portion which has been retracted to the non-use position above the ground between the left and right legs opened at a predetermined interval, As the legs are folded in the left-right width direction, the stand member is bent downward (toward the ground) in a substantially V-shape at the center to ground, and is automatically displaced to a use position where the stroller can be supported. Will be. Therefore, extra work such as performing a turning operation with hands or feet to ground the self-standing stand as in the related art is omitted, and the self-supporting state of the stroller by the stand member is easily performed as a subordinate operation of the folding operation of the stroller. Can be obtained.
[0016]
For example, such a stand member can be configured with a simple design in which two long members (left and right arm members) are connected in a hinge shape at the center. In this case, a support having a ground plane may be provided below the connecting portion, or the connecting portion itself may be used as the supporting portion. Also, the mounting structure to the leg is not particularly limited as long as the central portion is configured to allow a movement in which the central portion is bent downward in a substantially V shape.
[0017]
The stand member can be attached to the rear leg portion or to the front leg portion, and the entire body frame is folded and united according to the actual folding configuration (folding movement structure) of the stroller. It may be set appropriately so that the stroller in the closed state can be grounded to a position where it can be favorably supported.
[0018]
For example, in many folding strollers, after folding in the left-right width direction, one of the left and right hind legs or the left and right fore legs is folded up above the other to form an elongated shape. In this case, since the wheels of one of the left and right legs are in the ground contact state in the folding completed state, the stand member may be attached between the left (right or front) left and right leg portions. In practice, the support portion is separated from the wheel position by a predetermined distance so that the two wheels to be grounded and the position of the support portion with respect to the wheel position are located at approximately intermediate positions of the center of gravity of the stroller in the folded state. The stroller can be stably made independent by designing the stroller so that the stroller is separated from the ground.
[0019]
Therefore, the specific shape and the mounting state of the stand member are such that the moving direction of the support portion when being bent into a substantially V-shape with the folding of the body frame in the left-right width direction is separated from the two wheels. In a diagonally downward direction. In other words, the support portion may be configured to move in a direction away from the position of the support portion when it is bent in a substantially V shape so that the installation position of the support portion is away from the wheel. That is, in the stand member according to the present invention, each of the left and right arms sandwiching the central portion has a curved portion that is bent in a substantially rectangular shape. In this case, if the stand member itself has a curved shape in which, for example, the left and right arms are bent substantially in a U-shape, for example, such that the central portion projects rearward in plan view, the wheel and the support portion are formed. The distance from the installation position can be easily secured, and the installation state (independent state) is stabilized.
[0020]
Furthermore, if this bending direction is projected toward the inside of the vehicle body frame, in the assembled state of the stroller, almost the entire stand member including the support portion is located inside the lower part of the vehicle body between the left and right legs. Therefore, when the stand member is attached to the left and right rear legs, there is no possibility that it will hit the feet of the user pushing the stroller and hinder walking, and the left and right front legs are attached. In such a case, the danger of colliding with an object in front and damaging the stand or hitting a human can be avoided.
[0021]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
As an embodiment of the present invention, a folding stroller provided with a self-standing mechanism in which a stand member which can be bent downward in a substantially V-shape is suspended between left and right rear leg portions of the stroller is shown in FIGS. Shown in FIG. 1A is a schematic overall perspective view of a folding stroller in a folded and self-standing state, and FIG. 1B is a partial view showing a state of a self-standing stand in a use position. FIG. 2 is a schematic overall perspective view of the stroller in an assembled state, and FIG. 3 is a partial view showing a configuration near a rear leg of the stroller in an assembled state. FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view showing a state during the folding operation of the present stroller.
[0022]
The foldable stroller 1 of the present embodiment includes left and right front leg portions 11 each having a front wheel 12 at the tip, left and right rear leg portions 13 each having a rear wheel 14 at the tip, and upper left and right leg portions. The body rod is mainly composed of a frame rod 10 extending upward and having a handle H serving as a grip for pushing the stroller 1 at the upper end, and the seat 2 is attached to the body frame in a hammock manner. The seat is formed.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 2, the stroller 1 has an upper end of the left and right rear legs 13 so that the left and right frame rods 10 are maintained along the axial extension of the left and right front legs 11 in an assembled state. The left and right rear legs 13 are secured and maintained in a vehicle width interval in an assembled state by a releasable lock mechanism 4 laid between the left and right legs.
[0024]
In the stroller 1 of the present embodiment, the left and right rear legs 13 and the front legs 11 are closed with each other by releasing the lock mechanism 4 after folding the sunshade 3 and the like, so that the folding of the body frame in the left and right width direction can be performed. Is what is done. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4, the left and right front legs 11 are rotated until they come close to a straight line with respect to the left and right rear legs 13 in the direction in which the legs are opened. The stroller 1 is locked and folding of the stroller 1 is completed.
[0025]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, only the left and right rear wheels 14 are in the ground contact state in the final folded state, so that the stand member 15 is laid horizontally between the left and right rear legs 13, A support portion 16 provided at the center of the stroller is in contact with the left and right rear wheels 14 in a folded state at predetermined intervals, and the center of gravity of the stroller 1 substantially coincides with the center of these ground support points. As a result, a self-supporting mechanism capable of obtaining a stable self-supporting state is constructed.
[0026]
That is, in this self-standing mechanism, the stand member 15 has a hinge-shaped mechanism that can be bent downward in a substantially V-shape at the center, and a support 16 having a grounding surface 17 is provided at the center. I have. The support portion 16 is in a non-use position above the ground between the left and right rear legs 13 in the opened state in the stroller 1 assembled state, and the stand member 15 is in a retracted state.
[0027]
Further, the stand member 15 is configured such that the left and right arms are positioned such that the center thereof is away from the leg, and as shown in FIG. Is bent substantially rearwardly so that the angle α with respect to the stairs is about 30 degrees, and in a retracted state when the stroller 1 is assembled, it is curved in a convex shape inside the vehicle body frame in a plan view. Having the following. Thereby, when the stand member 15 is bent in a substantially V-shape with the folding operation, the position of the support portion 16 that contacts the left and right rear wheels 14 can be widened. Furthermore, due to this curved shape, almost the entire stand member 15 including the support portion 16 is located inside the vehicle body frame that is unlikely to hit the feet of the user pushing the stroller 1, so that the user can walk and run the stroller 1. There is no hindrance.
[0028]
Further, the stand member 15 is bent downward in a substantially V-shape at a central portion thereof along with the folding of the rear leg portion 13 in the left-right width direction, and the support portion 16 at the central portion is obliquely downward (ground side, legs). (In a direction away from the ground), and is automatically displaced to a use position where the ground contact surface 17 is brought into contact with the ground. Therefore, in the self-standing mechanism according to the present embodiment, the stand member 15 can be attached to the stroller 1 without extra labor such as performing a turning operation with hands or feet to ground the self-standing stand as in the related art. As a subordinate operation of the folding operation, the stroller 1 can be easily switched to a supporting state in which the stroller 1 becomes independent.
[0029]
In addition, as described above, in the self-standing mechanism, the support portion 16 supports the load of the stroller 1 via the substantially V-shaped stand member 15, so that the support portion 16 has a single thin rod shape as in the related art. It is much more stable and has higher strength than a stand, and the stand itself is simple and simple, so the design and cost burden in the stroller manufacturing process is small. .
[0030]
In the above embodiment, after the folding in the left-right width direction, the front leg is rotated and folded almost in a straight line in the upward direction of the leg with respect to the rear leg, until the front leg is aligned with the frame rod. In the above, the case where the type is folded as a whole as a whole is described as an example. However, the self-standing mechanism of the present invention is not limited to this type, and can be applied to various folding types. Things.
[0031]
For example, if the front leg is folded in a closed leg shape in the direction close to the rear leg after folding in the left-right width direction and the front wheel is located at a position higher than the rear wheel, the stand member is similar to the above embodiment. What is necessary is just to set it as the structure which traverses over right and left rear leg parts.
[0032]
Conversely, after folding in the left-right direction, the rear leg is rotated upward with respect to the front leg, or folded in the direction toward the closed leg (front-rear direction) so that the rear wheel is positioned higher than the front wheel. In this case, the front wheels remain in the ground contact state, so that if the stand member is laid horizontally between the left and right front legs, an efficient and stable self-supporting state can be obtained.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the self-standing mechanism of the present invention, while having a simple configuration, there is an effect that the stroller in a folded state can be more stably self-standing with higher strength than before.
[Brief description of the drawings]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a self-folding state of a folding stroller as one embodiment of the present invention, (a) is an overall perspective view, and (b) is a partial explanation showing a configuration of a self-standing stand portion. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an assembled state of the folding stroller of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic partial view showing a self-standing stand in an assembled state of the folding stroller.
FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view showing a state during a folding operation before the folding stroller is self-standing.
FIG. 5 is a partial side view showing a stand portion of the folding stroller in a self-folding state.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: folding stroller 2: sheet 3: sunshade 4: locking mechanism 5: hook 10: frame rod H: handle 11: front leg 12: front wheel 13: rear leg 14: rear wheel 15: stand member 16: Support part 17: ground plane

Claims (2)

In a self-standing mechanism of a folding stroller composed of a body frame with left and right front legs and left and right rear legs with wheels attached to the tips,
The body frame is configured such that the left and right rear leg portions and / or the left and right front leg portions can be folded in directions in which they are relatively close to each other,
It has a stand member that is laid across the left and right front legs or the left and right legs of the left and right rear legs,
This stand member
With the folding movement of the leg portion in the left-right width direction, a folding structure is provided that is bent downward in a substantially V-shape at a central portion,
A stand-alone folding stroller characterized by having a support portion at a lower portion of the center portion for allowing the stroller in a folded state to stand by itself when the stand member is bent in a substantially V-shape. mechanism. The self-supporting mechanism for a folding stroller according to claim 1, wherein the left and right arms of the stand member have a curved portion bent in a substantially rectangular shape, with the left and right arms sandwiching the central portion. .

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