US2037988A - Baby carriage - Google Patents

Description

L. LARSEN BABY CARRIAGE April 211, 119369 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 30, 1935 April! 211, 193% L LARsEN BABY CARRIAGE Filed Sept. 30, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BABY CARRIAGE Application September 30, 1935, Serial No. 42,724

8 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 type of baby carriage with which the invention is more particularly concerned, is of the kind which includes folding end frames and a collapsible body with a rigid top frame having a guided movement with respect to the end frames so that the body may be collapsed and the end frames then may be swung inwardly and downwardly upon the collapsed body.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide in a folding carriage of this kind, a simple novel and easily manipulatable 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 novel pivoted link connection between the end frames and body top frame, whereby a pair of links is releasably secured in substantial parallelism with each end frame, to hold the carriage in its open condition and whereby each pair of the links may be released from its end frame to swing about the pivotal connection therefor so that the body may collapse and the end frames may thereafter be folded down upon the collapsed body.

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. 1 is a perspective view of the improved baby carriage as when extended or opened into its con- Y dition for use, certain parts of the body being shown as broken away to more clearly disclose the bottom contour frame therefor.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the various frames in the carriage and illustrates diagrammatically the manner in which the carriage folds.

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view through a part of the carriage on an enlarged scale as taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is another detail vertical sectional view through a part of the carriage as taken on the line 4-4 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 a pair of substantially horizontal, longitudinal frame members llll0 having upturned front and rear ends ll and I2 respectively. The frame members are held in spaced relation by means of front and rear axles l3 and I4 carrying the usual pairs of wheels 15 and I6 respectively.

I'I indicates the front end frame of a generally inverted U shape and which includes side members or legs l8-|8 and a top connecting member IS. The bottom end of each side member l8 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 ll by means of a pin 2i. The extremity of each clip strap is bent to form a hook 22 to engage a part of the associated frame end ll 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.

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 to its unfolded open or extended substantially upright position as shown in Fig. 1. This position is further shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. It is to be understood that the upright position is determined by the engagement of the hooks of the clip straps with the associated, upturned end of the wheel frame side members lll-l0.

Associated with the side members I8 of the front end frame is a pair of links 23, each link being pivoted at a point between its ends as at 24 to a member 18. This divides each link into a relatively long top end arm 25 and a shorter bottom end arm 26. In the bottom extremity of each arm part 26 is a notch 21 defined by laterally spaced shoulders 28-49. One of said shoulders is shorter than the other and is provided with a rounded edge 29a as best appears in Fig. 4. In the bottom end of each side member l8 of the frame I! is a pair of relatively short longitudinal slots 30, the purpose of which will soon appear.

3i indicates the rear end frame of the carriage, which includes side members 3232 and a top cross member 33, the latter including a handle 34. The top curved ends of the side members are spread slightly outwardly so as to permit said frame to fold down upon the front end frame when the carriage is in its folded condition.

The bottom end of each side member 32 also has a clip strap 20 secured to the outside thereof. Each clip strap extends a suitable distance beyond the extremity of its associated side member and is pivotally connected to the'corresponding end I2 of the members ID by a pin 2|. The extremity of each clip strap, as before, is bent to form a hook 22 to engage a part of the associated end [2 so as to limit the pivotal or swinging movement of the rear end frame in one direction to a substantially upright extended position as appears in Figs. 1 and 2. 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 angle for the frame in pushing the carriage in the conventional manner.

Pivoted to the side members 32 of the rear end frame, is a pair of links 23 similar to those described in connection with the front end frame [1.

The links 23 may be swung about their pivotal axes or connections 24 from a position parallel with the side members of the end frame to a position substantially at a right angle thereto. To releasably secure said links in parallelism with the side members of the respective end frames I l and 3| I provide the following:

Extending between the side members of each end frame is a cross bar 35 having upwardly offset end parts 36 that extend through the slots 30 in the respective side members of the end frames. A spring 31 on the outside of each end frame side member connects the pivot pin 24 with the extremity of said cross bar end part 36 to urge the same upwardly in the slots 30.

The end parts of the cross bar 35 are so disposed with respect to the pivot pins 24 of the links as to engage in the recess 21 of the links 23 to hold them in parallelism with the associated side members of the end frames. When the bar 35 is depressed downwardly as by pressing thereon with the foot, this causes a downward movement of the bar end parts in the slots 3!] and withdraws the said end parts from engagement in the notches 21 in said links 23 so that said links are free to swing with respect to said end parts.

38 indicates the body of the carriage as a whole, which includes a body fabric 39 and a rigid top frame 40.

The body fabric 39 is made up of side walls 4|, a bottom wall 42 and end walls 43, suitably secured together at their margins. The top margin of the body fabric is made as a hem or pocket to receive the top frame 40. The side walls of the body fabric are cut to such shape that when the body is in its open or extended condition, it substantially follows the contour of the wheel frame members II], the front end frame and the bottom part of the rear end frame. As the body fabric is flexible, there is provided within the bottom of the body, a frame 44 which not only holds the body bottom to form, but which supports the usual cushioning material for the baby occupant.

A foldable hood 45 of any approved form is pivotally connected to the side members of the body top frame, at a point about midway of the ends thereof.

To operatively mount the collapsible body with respect to the end frames, the top ends of the top arms of the links 23 are pivotally connected as at 45 to the ends of the body top frame. The top frame for the body is of such length that when the carriage is in its unfolded open position an outward pressure, forwardly and rearwardly is exerted on the end frames to slightly spring the clip straps so that the end frames themselves are somewhat tensioned. This rigidifies the frame structure of the carriage as a whole.

When the carriage is in its open extended condition, ready for use, the end frames stand substantially upright with the links 23 in parallelism therewith as best shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. It is to be understood that the links are locked in this position by reason of the engagement of the end portions 36 of the bars 35 in the notches 21 in the bottom end of said links. Should it be desired to fold the carriage for storage or transport in an automobile, the procedure is as follows:

The operator merely exerts a foot pressure on the dropped mid portion of the bar 35 associated with the front end frame and this causes a disengagement of the end portions of the bar from the notches 21 in the associated links 23. By grasping the top cross member I9 of the frame and swinging it inwardly and downwardly, the top end arms of said links swing outwardly and downwardly to cause a collapse of the corresponding end of the body, until the cross member I9 comes to rest upon the top frame of the body. This position of the parts is best shown in full lines at the right hand end of Fig. 2.

The cross bar for the rear end frame is depressed in a similar manner and this withdraws the end parts of the bars from looking engage ment with the links associated with the rear end outwardly or rearwardly and downwardly to collapse the rear end of the body. In Fig. 2, the rear end frame is shown in full lines in an intermediate position of its folding downward upon the collapsed body.

To open up the carriage into its position of use,

the rear end frame is swung rearwardly and the rear end of the body frame is lifted upwardly until the point of connection between said body frame and the links is disposed in a horizontal plane above that of the pivotal connection 24. Further upward swinging movement of the rear end frame will cause the link to straighten out into parallelism with the side members of the rear end frame. In this straightening out of the links, the rounded corner 29a thereof will engage the end portions 36 of the cross rod 35 and will depress the same so that said portions will pass the shoulder 29 and will snap into the notches 21 to lock this end of the carriage in its extended condition.

The front end structure is actuated in the same manner, into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2. When the links are releasably locked to their respective end frames, the end frames are held in their upright position by the top frame of the body which is then supported in its open extended condition by said end frames.

The structure described is of a simple and inexpensive character; is easy, positive and efficient in its operation and may be so operated by an inexperienced person.

While in describing the 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 the 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 each pivotally connected to an end of each side member of the wheel frame, a collapsible body including a rigid top frame, a link pivotally connected to each side member of the end frame and also pivotally connected to the body top frame, and a foot operable member disposed below the plane of the rigid top frame and extending between both side members of the end frame and arranged to engage portions of both links to releasably secure them to the associated side members of the end frame against said pivotal movement.

2. 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 each pivotally connected to an end of each side member of the wheel frame, a collapsible body including a rigid top frame, a link pivotally connected to each side member of the end frame and also pivotally connected to the body top frame, and a member extending between both side members of the end frame and arranged in a plane convenient to be foot-actuated and capable of a limited longitudinal movement with respect to the end frame for engaging portions of both links to releasably secure them to the associated side members of the end frame against said pivotal movement.

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 each pivotally connected to an end of each side member of the wheel frame, a collapsible body including a rigid top frame, a link pivotally connected at a point between its ends to each side member of the end frame, means pivotally connecting the top end of each link with the rigid body frame, and means arranged below the rigid top frame for releasably locking the bottom end of each link to the associated end frame side member against pivotal movement said means including a spring pressed cross bar, the ends of which have guided movement in slots in the side members of the end frame.

4. 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 each pivotally connected to an end of each side member of the wheel frame, a collapsible body including a rigid top frame, a link pivotally connected at a point between its ends to each side member of the end frame, means pivotally connecting the top end of each link with the rigid body frame, means for releasably looking the bottom end of each link to the associated end frame side member against pivotal movement, and means extending between said end frame side members arranged for foot actuation for simultaneously releasing the bottom end of both links from said side members for said pivotal movement.

5. 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 each pivotally connected to an end of each side member of the wheel frame, a collapsible body including a rigid top frame, a link pivotally connected at a point between its ends to each side member of the end frame, means pivotally connecting the top end of each link with the rigid body frame, and a member positioned for foot actuation and extending between both side members of the end frame and having a limited longitudinal movement with respect thereto and releasably engaged with the bottom end of both side members for locking said links thereto against pivotal movement.

6. 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 each pivotally connected to an end of each side member of the wheel frame, a collapsible body including a rigid top frame, a link pivotally connected at a point between its ends to each side member of the end frame, means pivotally connecting the top end of each link with the rigid body frame, the bottom end of each link comprising a bar having end portions engaged in slots in the side members of the end frame for a notch therein, and means positioned for foot actuation and having a limited guided movement with respect to said side members and releasably engaged with the notches in both links for locking said links to said side members against pivotal movement.

7. 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 each pivotally connected to an end of each side member of the wheel frame, a collapsible body including a rigid top frame, a link pivotally connected at a point between its ends to each side member of the end frame, means pivotally connecting the top end of each link with the rigid body frame, the bottom end of each link having a notch therein, a bar positioned for foot actuation and extending between both side members of the end frame for a relative guided movement with respect thereto and having portions adapted for engagement in the notches in both links, and spring means interposed between said bar and said side members for yieldingly holding said bar portions in said notches in said links.

8. 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 each pivotally connected at its bottom end to each side member of the wheel frame, there being longitudinal slots in the bottom end of each side member, a link arranged at the inside of each side member and pivotally connected thereto at a point between its ends, each link having a notch in its bottom end, a collapsible body including a rigid top frame, means for pivotally connecting the top end of both links tosaid body top frame, a bar arranged transversely between said side members and having end portions extending through said slots and other portions arranged to engage in said notches in said link ends, and springs operatively engaged with said side members and said end portions of said bar respectively for releasably holding said other portions of said bar in said notches to hold said links against pivotal movement.

LEWIS LARSEN.

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