US2037987A - Baby carriage - Google Patents

Description

pril 2l, QS v 1 LARSEN 937,987

BABY CARRIAGE Filed Sept. 30, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l ,MAM

/M Y 'N Patented Apr. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BABY CARRIAGE Application September 30, 1935, Serial No. 42,723

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in baby carriages and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The baby carriage with which the invention is more particularly concerned is of the folding kind which includes folding end frames and a collapsible body with a rigid top frame having a sliding guided engagement with the end frames so that the body may slide downwardly with respect to the end frames into a collapsed condition and so that the end frames may then be swung inwardly and downwardly upon the collapsed body.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide in a folding carriage of this kind, a simple and efficient connection between the body top frame and the end frames, whereby the folding and unfolding or opening operations may be readily carried out.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a carriage of this kind, a structure wherein certain locking members in the form of spring pressed plungers carried by the end of the collapsible body top frame, slide in guide grooves in the side members of the folding end frames and in one position are adapted to engage certain iixed parts of said si-de members to hold the end frames in their upright position whereby the body is maintained in its open or unfolded condition for use.

The above mentioned objects of the invention as well as others, together with the several advantages thereof, will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a yperspective view of the improved baby carriage when extended or opened into its condition for use, certain parts of the body thereof being shown as broken away more clearly to disclose the bottom contour frame therefor.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the carriage in its folded or collapsed condition.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale, partly in elevation and partly in section of the top portion of the front end of the carriage when in its open or extended condition.

Fig. 4 is a View in side elevation of the parts appearing at the bottom of Fig. 3.

Fig. is a horizontal detail vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale, through a part of the carriage, as taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the carriage includes a wheel frame comprising ya pair of substantially horizontal, longitudinal frame members |0-I0 having upturned front and rear ends II and I2 respectively. The frame members are held in spaced relation by means of front and rear axles I3 and I4 carrying the usual pairs of wheels I5 and I6 respectively. As the specific structure whereby the axles are connected to the frame members Ill-IU, forms no part of the present invention, the same is not illustrated or described in detail herein.

I'I indicates the front end frame of a generally inverted U shape and including side members or legs I8- 8 and a top connecting member I9. The bottom end of each side member I8 has a clip strap 20 secured to the outside thereof. Each strap extends a suitable distance beyond the extremity of its associated side member and is pivotally connected to the extremity of an upturned frame member end II by. means of a pin 2|. The extremity of each clip strap is bent to form a hook 22 to engage a part of the associated frame end Il so as to limit the pivotal or swinging movement of the front end frame in one direction, to a substantially upright position as best shown in Fig. 1.

Preferably each side member I8 of the frame I'I is tubular. In the inner wall of each member is a longitudinal slot 23 and in the outer wall of each member I8 is an opening 24 at the top end of the slot.

From the construction above described, it is apparent that the end frame may be swung from its folded position wherein it is disposed substantially horizontal as best shown in Fig. 2, to its unfolded, open or extended, substantially upright position as shown in Fig. 1, and vice versa. It is to be understood, however, that the upright position is determined by the engagement of the hooks 22 of the clip straps, with the associated upturned end II of the wheel frame side members IIJ-I0.

25 indicates the rear end frame of the carriage and which frame is also of a generally inverted U shape. Said frame includes side members or legs 26-26 and a top connecting member 21. The side members 26-26 of the said frame are of a length greater than the corresponding members of the front end frame. The top ends of said side members are curved rearwardly so as to bring the cross member 21, When said rear end frame is in its extended position, into an elevation convenient for use as a push handle. A hand grip 28 may be employed on the cross member for this purpose. The top curved ends of the side members are also spread slightly outwardly so as to permit said frame to fold down upon the front end frame Il into a more compact folded condition as best shown in Fig. 2.

The bottom end of each side member 26 has a clip strap 29 secured to the outside thereof and which clip strap is similar to the clip strap 20 before mentioned in connection with the front end frame I1. Each clip strap 29 extends a suitable distance beyond the extremity of its associated side member and is pivotally connected to the corresponding end I2 of the wheel frame side members I0 by a pin 39. The extremity of each clip strap is bent to form a hook 3! to engage a part of the associated end I2 so as to limit the pivotal or swinging movement of the rear end frame, in one direction to a substantially upright extended position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. In this so-called upright extended position, the bottom straight end of the side members do not extend truly perpendicular but lean slightly rearwardly thereof as this gives a better push angle for the frame in pushing the carriage in the conventional manner.

It is to be understood, of course, that each side member 26 of the rear end frame is provided along the inner wall thereof with a longitudinal slot and the outer wall thereof has an opening substantially at the top end of the slot, just as in the case of the front end frame.

32 indicates, as a whole, the body of the carriage which includes a body fabric 33 and a rigid top frame comprising the side members 34 and end members 35, (see Fig. 5). The end members each have end portions 36 bent to engage the inside of the side members 34 and which end portions are secured thereto by the rivets or pins 31-38. Parallel with but spaced outwardly from each end member 35 is a hollow bar 39 that carries end brackets 40 which are pivotally connected to the associated top frame members 34 by the pins 38 before mentioned.

In each hollow bar are spring pressed plunger rods 4 I the inner ends of which are turned downwardly to terminate in actuating knobs 152-42. The outer end of each plunger rod normally extends through the slot 23 and into each side member of the end frame. In one position the extremity of each rod extends into the opening 24 in each side member of the end frame. When said extremities are engaged in said openings, this locks the bar 39 and associated end of the body frame to the end frame to hold the carriage in the extended condition.

To prevent a lateral tilting of the bar in its movement with respect to the side members which would cramp easy operation, I provide in each side member of the end frame a runner or guide block 43 through which the outer end of the plunger rod 4I extends with a sliding bearing. When the plunger rods are moved toward each other, so as to withdraw their extremities from the openings 24 in the end frame side members I8, said extremities are retained in said guide blocks which slide up and down in the side members according to whether the carriage is being opened or closed.

It is to be understood that there is a bar 39 at each end of the body top frame and each bar is operatively engaged with the side members of the corresponding end frame as above described, the parts shown in Fig. 3 being those associated with the front end frame I1.

The body fabric 33 includes side walls 44, bottorn wall 45 and end walls 46 suitably secured together at their margins. The top margins of the side and end walls are formed with hemmed pockets 41 and 48 to receive the side and end members of the body top frame whereby the body fabric is operatively secured to said body top frame.

The side walls of the body fabric are cut to such pattern that when said body is in its open or extended condition, it substantially follows the contour of the wheel frame members I0, the front end frame and the bottom portion of the rear end frame.

The top frameV for the body is of such length that when the carriage is in its unfolded open position, it exerts an outward pressure, forwardly and rearwardly on the end frames to slightly spring the clip straps 29-29 so that the said end frames are somewhat tensioned to rigidify the frame structure as a whole.

Associated with the body is a foldable hood 49 of any approved form that is pivotally connected to the side members of the body top frame, at a point about midway of the ends thereof.

The body fabric being flexible, there is provided within the bottom of the body, a frame 59 which not only holds the body bottom to form, but which supports the usual cushioning material for the baby occupant.

When the carriage is in its open extended condition, ready for use, and it is desired to fold the carriage for storage or transport it in an automobile, the procedure is as follows:

The operator grasps the two knobs 42 of the plunger rods 4I associated with the front end frame I'I and pinches them together. This retracts the extremities of said plunger rods 4| from the openings 24 in the side members of the end frame, when the gravitation action of the associated end of the body frame will cause the rods to slide downwardly in the slots 23 in said side members until stopped by the bottom ends of said slots.

This will collapse the front end of the body, the fabric of which folds into pleats. The front end frame I'l is then swung inwardly and downwardly into position upon the corresponding end of the body.

The parts of the rear end frame are actuated in a similar manner to collapse the corresponding end of the body. The rear end frame 25 is then swung inwardly and downwardly upon the collapsed body, the handle end of the frame being made wide to overlap the folded down front frame as best shown in Fig. 2.

To open the carriage into its extended condition for use, the rear end frame is swung into its substantially upright position as limited by the clip straps 29. The bar 39 associated with the rear end of the body frame is then lifted upwardly, the plunger rods associated therewith, sliding through the slots 23 of the side members of the frame until their extremities reach the openings 24 to snap thereintol. The front end frame is then swung into its upright position as limited by the clip straps 20 after which a lift on the bar 39 associated with said end frame will cause the plunger rods 4I to slide up the slots of the side members of the end frame until their extremities snap into the openings 24. At this time the body will be in its opened extended condition ready for use.

The parts are so correlated that they rigidly hold the carriage body in its open condition for use. The carriage is easy to manipulate in the folding and opening thereof and the parts are so disposed as to visibly suggest the manner of such manipulation even to a novice.

While in describing my invention, I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the various parts thereof, the same is to be considered only in its illustrative sense so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a folding baby carriage, the combination of a wheel frame including substantially horizontal side members, an end frame including a pair of side members pivotally connected to one end of the side members of the wheel frame for a swinging movement from a substantially upright position to a position substantially parallel with the side members of the wheel frame, the side members of the end frame each having a longitudinal slot therein, a collapsible body having a rigid top frame, members movable with one end of the top frame and having portions slidably engaged in said slots in said side members of the end frame, and means for releasably locking said members movable With the said top frame to the top end of the associated side members of the end frame so as to hold the latter in its substantially upright position and so that one end of said body is supported thereby in its extended condition.

2, In a folding baby carriage, the combination of a wheel frame including substantially horlzontal side members, an end frame including a pair of side members pivotally connected to one end of the side members of the wheel frame for a swinging movement from a substantially upright position to a position substantially parallel with the side members of the wheel frame, the side members of the end frame each having a longitudinal slot therein, a collapsible body having a rigid top frame, spring pressed plungers movable with one end of the top frame and having portions slidably engaged in the slotsl in said side members of the end frame and adapted to enter certain openings in said side members of the end frame to hold the latter in a substantially upright position so that one end of said body is supported thereby in its extended condition.

3. In a folding baby carriage, the combination of a wheel frame including substantially horizontal side members, an end frame including a pair of side members pivotally connected to one end of the side members of the wheel frame for a swinging movement from a substantially upright position to a position substantially parallel with the side members of the wheel frame, the side members of the end frame each having a longitudinal slot therein, a collapsible body having a rigid top frame, a cross bar operatively connected to one end of said top frame of the body, and spring pressed plungers carried by said bar, one extending through and slidable in each slot in the associated side member of the end frame and adapted to engage a fixed part of said side member so as to hold said side members in their substantially upright position and so that one end of said body is supported thereby in its extended condition.

4. In a folding baby carriage, the combination of a wheel frame including substantially horizontal side members, an end frame including a pair of tubular side members each with a lon` gitudinal slot in its inside wall and an opening in its outside wall near the top end of the slot, means pivotally connecting the bottom end of each tubular side member of said end frame to an associated end of the side members of the wheel frame so that said end frame may be swung from a substantially upright position to a position substantially parallel with the side members of the wheel frame, a collapsible body having a rigid top frame, members movable with one end of the top frame and having portions slidably extending through said slots so as to engage in said openings to hold said end frame in its upright position wherebyone end of the body is held in its extended condition, said members being withdrawable from said openings so as to slide downwardly in said slots to collapse the associated end of the body and so that said end frame may be swung inwardly and downwardly upon said body.

5. In a folding baby carriage, the combination of a wheel frame including substantially horizontal side members, an end frame including a pair of tubular side members each with a longitudinal slot in its inside wall and an opening in its outside wall near the top end of the slot, means pivotally connecting the bottom end of each tubular side member to an associated end of the side members of the wheel frame so that said end frame may be swung from a substantially upright position to a position substantially parallel with the side members of the wheel frame, a collapsible body having a rigid top frame, a cross bar extending between the tubular members of each end frame and operatively connected to the body top frame, a pair of spring pressed plungers carried by said bar with portions extending slidably through each slot so as to engage in an associated opening in the outside wall of said tubular side members to hold said end frame in its upright position, said plungers being releasable from said openings so that they may slide down said slots to permit the said end of the body to collapse and to then permit the end frame to be swung inwardly and downwardly upon the collapsed body.

6. In a folding baby carriage, the combination of a wheel frame including substantially hori- Zontal side members, an end frame including a pair of tubular side members each with a longitudinal slot in its inside Wall and an opening in its outside wall near the top end of the slot, means pivotally connecting the bottom end of each tubular side member to an associated end of the side members of the wheel frame so that said end frame may be swung from a substantially upright position to a position substantially parallel with the side members of the wheel frame, a collapsible body having a rigid top frame, members movable with the ends of the top frame and having portions slidably extending through the slots so as to engage in said openings so as to hold said end frame in its upright position, and runner blocks slidable in said tubular side members and in which end portions of said movable members engage so that said portions move in parallelism, said movable members being actuatable to withdraw said end portions from said openings so that said portions may slide down- Wardly in said slots to collapse one end of the body and so that said end frame may be swung inwardly and downwardly upon the collapsed body.

7. In a folding baby carriage, an end frame pivotally mounted at its bottom end and including tubular side members each with a longitudinal slot in its inside wall and an opening in its outside wall, near the top end of said slot, a body top frame, a bar pivotally connected thereto and arranged in the plane of the side members of the end frame, and a pair of spring pressed plungers carried by said bar and having end portions slidably extending through said slots to engage in said openings to lock the end frame and top frame together.

LEWIS LARSEN.

Images