WO2005102813A2

WO2005102813A2 - Pushchair

Info

Publication number: WO2005102813A2
Application number: PCT/GB2005/001357
Authority: WO
Inventors: Donna Naseby
Original assignee: Donna Naseby
Priority date: 2004-04-24
Filing date: 2005-04-07
Publication date: 2005-11-03
Also published as: WO2005102813A3

Abstract

A pushchair for carrying two children comprises two pushchair units connected together. One of the pushchair units is provided with two detachable wheels and a detachable handle, whilst the other pushchair is provide with brackets. Elements of the side of one of the pushchairs are revealed by detaching the wheels and the handle. These elements co-operate with the brackets to attach one pushchair unit to the other.

Description

PUSHCHAIR

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to hand propelled load carrying vehicles, for example pushchairs of the type used to convey infants or small children. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus and method for connected together two or more such pushchairs.

Background of the Invention

Pushchairs are widely used for conveying infants and small children. Most families have more than one child, and in many cases families have two children both of whom require the use of a pushchair. Whilst a toddler may be able to walk, there may be occasions, where d e child is tired and needs to sit in a pushchair.

Most families with more than one child cannot provide one to one attention to all of their children at all times, in particular, one parent is often in a situation where both of those children will require use of a pushchair. This is very old problem, and many solutions have been proposed. For example, pushchairs with two seats are available. Such double pushchairs can be configured with the seats side by side, or one in front of the other.

The problem with double pushchairs is that they are much less manoeuvrable than pushchairs having only a single seat. The result is that f--mi]ies will often purchase one or more single pushchair, and a double pushchair, only using the double pushchair when one adult must look after two children.

A number of proposals have been made to attach two single pushchairs together, thereby aUowing families to purchase only the number of pushchairs they require, and to use them as single or double pushchairs as required. US 6,527,294 describes a device in which two pushchairs are connected together using clips. The front and rear wheels on one side of one of the two pushchairs are pivoted away from the ground. When looking at the combination of the two pushchairs joined together, at the front of the vehicle, there are three sets of two wheels in contact with the ground.

GB 2,373,484 is another device where two pushchairs are joined together with the wheels on one side of the two pushchairs pivoted away from the ground. To connect the two pushchairs together one side of each pushchair is equipped with a rail extending from the front to the rear of the pushchair. The shapes of the respective rails are such that one mates and intedocks with the other. To attach the two pushchairs together requires the user to unlock the front an rear wheels of one of the pushchairs, retract them and lock them in the retracted position, to align the rails of each pushchair, and then to hold one pushchair still whilst pushing the other pushchair backwards until the two are locked together. To disconnect the two pushchairs, the process must be carried out in reverse.

It would be desirable to provide an improved pushchair which can be connected to another pushchair.

Summary of the Invention

One aspect of the invention provides a hand propelled load carrying vehicle as specified in Claim 1.

Other preferred features of the invention are specified in the claims dependent on Claim 1.

The present invention provides a simple means of attaching together two hand propelled load c-trrying vehicles. In the case of pushchairs, the ability to quickly attach or detach two pushchairs is of great advantage to parents. Not only can parents avoid having two single pushchairs and a double pushchair, but the very simple and fast method of attaching and detaching the vehicles is particularly valuable when caring for children, since children require attention, so the smaller amount of time spent attaching or detaching vehicles together the better.

The present invention improves on the prior art by using components of the frames of vehicle to constitute a secure means of attaching vehicle units together, rather than providing means to move wheels to an out of use position, and then either providing relatively complex attachment means, or insubstantial attachment means such as clips.

Another advantage provided by the present invention is that where the hand propelled vehicle is a pushchair of the type that folds up, when two such pushchairs are joined together according to the invention, each pushchair can still be folded up without separating the two pushchairs.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which by way of example illustrate a hand propelled vehicle of the invention:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a pushchair;

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of two pushchairs joined together;

Figure 3 illustrates the steps involved in joining together two pushchairs according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a pushchair according to a second aspect of the invention

Figure 5a is an exploded schematic representation of a second embodiment of a pushchair according to the invention;

Figure 5b is an exploded schematic representation of one wheel assembly of the pushchair illustrated in Figure 5a;

Figure 5c is an exploded schematic representation of another wheel assembly of the pushchair illustrated in Figure 5b;

Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a bracket forniing part of the pushchair illustrated in Figures 5a to 5c; and Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the bracket illustrated in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a schematic representation of a connector;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional elevation of the connector illustrated in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a schematic representation of another connector;

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional representation of the connector illustrated in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional elevation of a collar;

Figure 13 is a side view of the collar illustrated in Figure 12;

Figure 14 is an exploded schematic representation of a third embodiment of a pushchair according to the invention;

Figure 14a is a schematic representation of a connector illustrated in Figure 14;

Figure 15 is an exploded schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of a pushchair according to the invention; and

Figure 15a is a schematic representation of a connector illustrated in Figure 15.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a pushchair 1 comprising two spaced apart substantially triangular frames 2 and 3, joined together by a folding mechanism 4 which includes a horizontal cross-member 5. The triangular frame 2 includes an elongate frame member 6 supporting a front wheel arrangement 9 at one of its ends, and a handle member 10 at its other end. The front wheel arrangement 9 includes two spaced apart wheels 11 and is mounted in the end of the tubular member 6 to swivel about a substantially vertical axis when in use. A substantially upright frame member 7 extends downwardly from the elongate tubular member 6 and is provided at its free end with a wheel arrangement 12 including two spaced apart wheels 13. The wheel arrangement is fixed so that the wheels rotate in a plane parallel with the plane of the triangular frames 2 and 3, thereby ensuring that the pushchair follows a straight path. A lower bracing member 8 connects the elongate frame member 6 to the upright frame member 7 at a point on the frame members 6, 7 above but in close proximity to the wheel arrangements 9 and 12.

The triangular frame 2 is provided with three tubular brackets 14. The first tubular bracket 14 is attached to the outside of the elongate frame member 6 below but close to the handle member 10. The second tubular bracket 14 is again attached to the outside of the elongate frame member 6, but in this case close to the wheel arrangement 9. The third tubular bracket 14 is attached to the outside of the substantially upright frame member 7, in close proximity to the wheel arrangement 12.

A seat 15, including a harness 16 extends between the triangular frames 2 and 3. A foot-rest 17 also extends between the triangular frames 2 and 3. Both the seat 15 and the foot-rest 17 are made of a flexible material, thereby allowing folding of the pushchair.

The triangular frame 3 includes an elongate frame member 18 supporting a front wheel arrangement 9 at one of its ends, and a handle member 22 at its other end. The front wheel arrangement 9 includes two spaced apart wheels 11 and is mounted on a stub 20 to swivel about a substantially vertical axis when in use. The lower free end of the elongate frame member 18 fits inside and engages with the stub 20, the free end of the elongate frame member 18 and the inside of the stub 20 constituting a male/ female connection. These two elements are locked together by means of spring loaded studs 21 which are located in elongate member 18. The stub 20 is provided with apertures 28 in which the studs locate. The springs of the spring loaded studs 21 force the studs outwards, thereby ensuring positive locking of the stub 20 to the elongate frame member 18. To detach the stub 20 from the elongate frame member 18, the two studs 21 are pushed together between finger and thumb, and the stub 20 is pulled away from the free end of the elongate frame member 18. The studs 21 have rounded heads to facilitate insertion and removal of the stub 20 from the elongate frame member 18. The handle member 22 is attached to the elongate frame member 18 by a male/ female connection, the free end of the handle member 22 locating inside the upper free end of the elongate frame member 18. The handle member 22 is locked in place by spring loaded studs 23. The elongate member 18 is provided with apertures in which the studs 23 locate. The springs of the spring loaded studs 23 force the studs outwards, thereby ensuring a positive locking of the handle member 22 to the elongate frame member 18. To detach the handle member 22 from the elongate frame member 18, die two studs 23 are pushed together between finger and thumb, and the handle member 23 is pulled away from the upper free end of the elongate frame member. The studs 23 have rounded heads to facilitate insertion and removal of the handle member 23 from the elongate frame member 18.

Figure 2 illustrates two pushchairs A and B according to the invention joined together. The stubs 20 and 25, and the handle member 22 (not shown) of the pushchair A are removed. The lower free end of the elongate frame member 18 is inserted into the bracket 14 attached to die lower end of the elongate frame member 6 of the pushchair B. The free end of the substantially upright frame member 24 is inserted into the bracket 14 attached to substantially upright frame member 7 of the pushchair B. To complete attachment of pushchair A to pushchair B, the upper free end of elongate frame member 18 of pushchair A is aligned with the upper bracket 14 of pushchair B, and the handle 22, which had previously been removed from pushchair A is inserted through the bracket 14 and back into the elongate frame member 18. This last stage is best seen in Figure 3.

The procedures for attaching and detaching two pushchairs according to the invention will now be described with reference to Figure 3.

In step 1, the stub 20 mounting wheel arrangement 9 is detached from the elongate frame member 18 by pressing together the spring-loaded studs 21. The same procedure is followed to detach the stub 25. In step 2, the free end of the elongate frame member 18 is inserted into the bracket 14, the studs 21 engaging with apertures 27 in the bracket 14.

In step 3, the handle member 22 is released from the elongate frame member 18 by pressing together the spring-loaded studs 23 and pulling on the handle member 22.

In step 4, the elongate frame member 18 is aligned with the bracket 14.

In step 5, the handle member 22 is inserted into die bracket 14 and into the aligned elongate frame member 18, the spring-loaded studs 23 locking into the apertures 28.

To detach the two prams and re-assemble pram A, the attachment process described above is performed in reverse.

As can be seen from both Figures 1 and 2, the lower brackets 14 (attached to the lower end of the elongate frame member 6 and the substantially upright frame member 7 respectively) are each provided with apertures in which the spring-loaded studs 21 can engaged.

In the embodiment of the invention shown the vehicle units joined together are pushchairs. Equally, the vehicle units could be prams, other hand propelled child carrying vehicles, or other hand propelled load carrying vehicles.

In the drawings, and Figure 1 in particular, the triangular frames 2, 3 include the first and second parts of the attachment means respectively. Alternatively, a pair of vehicle units, such as pushchairs, may be manufactured where one of the vehicle units is provided with the first part of the attachment means and the other vehicle unit is provided with the second part of the attachment means.

A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 4 to 13 and will now be described with reference to those figures. A pushchair 29 includes a first side frame comprising an elongate front frame member 45a to which is attached a wheel assembly B comprising a pair of spaced apart wheels 42 mounted on a stub 41. The stub 41 is releasably attachable to the elongate front frame member 45a by means of a connector 46, which is best shown in Figures 8 and 9. The stab 41 mounts a fitting 40 which consists of a pair of tubular brackets 40a and 40b connected by a web 40c, the tubular bracket 40b including a tapered portion 40d. The fitting 40 is attached to the stub 41 by means of fasteners passing through aligned bores 41a and 40e of the stub 41 and the fitting 40 respectively.

The tubular bracket 40 (best shown in Figures 6 and 7) consists of a first tubular bracket 40 which slides onto the stub 41 such that the bores 40e align with the bores 41a of the stub 41. With the fitting 40 securely attached to the stub 41 the second tubular bracket 40b projects outwardly from the pushchair 29.

The elongate front frame member 45a also mounts a handle assembly which comprises a handle insert 52, insertable into the upper free end of the elongate front frame member 45a. A handle extension piece 53 attaches to the handle insert 52 and to a handle 54. A fitting 40 is mounted on the extension piece 53, being attached thereto by fasteners engaging with aligned bores 40e and 53a of the tubular fitting 40a and handle extension 53 respectively.

The first side frame further includes an elongate rear frame member 45b to which a stub 47 is attached a wheel assembly C comprising a pair of spaced apart wheels 49 mounted on a stub 47. The stub 47 is releasably attachable to the elongate rear frame member 45b by means of a connector 56, which is best shown in Figures 10 and 11. The stub 47 also mounts a fitting 40 which consists of a pair of tubular brackets 40a and 40b connected by a web 40c, the tubular bracket 40b induding a tapered portion 40d. The fitting 40 is attached to the stub 47 by means of fasteners passing through aligned bores 41a and 40e of the stub 47 and the fitting 40 respectively, the tubular bracket 40b projecting outwardly from the pushchair 29. The pushchair 29 further comprises a second side frame induding second front and rear elongate frame members 60 and 61. The front elongate frame member 60 mounts a wheel assembly A. The assembly indudes a connector 46 (best illustrated in Figures 8 and 9) which removably attaches the lower free end of the elongate member 60 to an extension member 36. A collar 39 is attached to the extension member 36 by means of a pin 38 passing through aligning apertures 39a and 38b in the collar and extension member 36 respectivdy. The collar 39 is described in greater detail with reference to Figures 12 and 13. The extension member 36 is releasably connectable to a stub 33 which mounts wheels 31 by means of a bracket 32. Located in the stub 33 is a spring member 35 provided with a protrusions 35a which extends through an aperture 34a in the said stub 34. The extension member 36 is also provided with an aperture 36a, which engages with the protrusion 35a when the pushchair is assembled as illustrated in Figure 4. This type of spring loaded fastener is well known and of the type having domed surface. In order to rdease the stub 33 from the extension member 36, a user simply presses against the front of the protrusion 35a and pulls the stub 33 away from the extension member 36. To re-attach the stub the user aligns the aperture 34a with the protrusion 35a and pushes the two pieces together. The protrusion 35a is pushed inwards, the inner surface of the extension member 36 riding over the protrusion until it meets the aperture 36a whereupon the force of the spring 35 pushes the protrusion 35a through the aperture 36a.

The collar 39 indudes a tapered portion 39b which engages with the tapered portion 40d of the second tubular bracket 40b when two of the pushchairs 29 as illustrated in the Figure 4 are attached one to the other.

The pushchair includes a second handle member 62, which comprises a hand grip 63 and an end portion 64 of reduced diameter for insertion into the free end of the frame member 60. The end portion 64 indudes one element of a fastening means of the type described with reference to Figure 5b, i.e. a spring having a protrusion 65 is inserted into die end portion 64, and when the end portion 64 is inserted in the free end of the upper free end of the frame member 60, the protrusion 65 engages with the aperture 66 to attach the handle to the pushchair securdy.

The said protrusions may comprise studs, pins or ball bearings.

The procedure for attaching together two of the pushchairs 29 is very similar to that illustrated in Figure 3. The procedure is as follows:

i) the user depresses the protrusion 34a and pulls the stub 33 and connected whed 31 away from the extension member 36 (and hence the rest of pushchair 29);

ii) the same is done with respect to the rear whed assembly D;

iii) to remove the handle member 62, the protrusion 65 is depressed and the handle is pulled away from the frame member 60;

iv) the pushchair from which the wheds and handle have been removed are brought along side another pushchair 29 whereupon the lower part of each of the extension member is inserted into one of the tubular brackets 40b;

v) the free end 67 of the frame member 60 is aligned with the lower end of tubular bracket 40b, and the end portion 64 of the handle 62 is passed through the tubular bracket 40b and into the free end 67 of the frame member 60, such that the protrusion 65 engages with the aperture 66 to fasten the handle to the pushchair, and hence to fasten together the two pushchairs

To disassemble two fastened together pushchairs 29 the procedure described above is followed in reverse. One of the problems assodated with pushchairs of the type illustrated in Figure 4 is that dimensional tolerance is relatively wide, and therefore distances between any two respective components on diffp.i-ent pushchairs may differ noticeably. The invention requires elements of one pushchair to be aligned with dements of another. For the user, attachment of one pushchair to another must be as simple as possible. The provision of the tapered portion 40d of the fitting 40 compensates for any dimensional variation between pushchairs (which may result from manufacturing processes or wear and tear). Furthermore, the provision of a taper 39b on the collar 39 causes the two pushchairs to fit together widiout noticeable play therebetween. When one pushchair is attached to another, they are secured together by insertion of the end 64 of handle member 62, having passed through a tubular portion 40d of a fitting 40, into the free end of the frame member 66 and being locked therein. The pushchair of the invention is very simple when compared to those of the prior art, both in terms of manufacture and assembly.

Referring now to Figures 14 and 14a, there is shown a pushchair having rear wheels only. In this embodiment of the invention, the means of attachment of one pushchair to another is the same as that shown in Figure 5a, except that the attachment of adjacent frame members 60 is by means of a connector 68, which indudes an annular member 69a for attachment to frame member 60 and an open spring clip 69b for attachment to a frame member of an adjacent pushchair. The annular member 69a and the open spring clip 69b are joined together by a web 70. In use attachment of two pushchairs by the rear whed and handle member is achieved in the manner described with reference to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5a. The connector 68 rotates about the frame member to which the annular member 69a is attached and the open spring clip 69b is pressed onto the frame member of an adjacent pushchair. The connector 68 holds the lower part of the attached pushchairs in a substantially fixed rdationship to each other. The dimension of the web 70, the annular member 69a and the spring clip 69b are substantially similar to those of the web 40c and the tubular brackets 40a and 40b of the fitting 40, in order that adjacent frame members 60 of attached pushchairs are substantially paralld. Rotatably mounting the connector 68 on the frame member allows the said connector to be moved to a position where it does not project outwardly of the pushchair chassis when the connector is not required to connect together two pushchairs. The connector 68 is formed from a resilient material, and is preferably a plastics moulding, although other suitable materials could be used. The connector 68 may be attached to the frame member 60 such that it is not removable from the frame member.

Referring now to Figures 15 and 15a, there is shown a pushchair having three pairs of spaced apart wheds, two pairs 49 being at the rear of the pushchair and the third 80 being attached to the chassis of the pushchair where members 81 are joined together. When two pushchairs of the type illustrated in Figure 15 are joined together, the manner of attachment is as described with reference to the previously described embodiments, except that no front wheds are detached. Instead, the two pushchairs are connected together by a connecting means 82, which comprises a pair of tabular brackets 83, a frame member 60 of each pushchair being provided with one of the said brackets, and a spring loaded snap coupling element 84 joining one bracket 83 to the other. Each bracket 83 may be fabricated in two halves. During assembly, each half would be placed on a frame member 60, and a fastening means passed through the said halves and the frame member, e.g. a bolt or rivet. The coupling dement 84 includes protrusions 85, which are mounted on a leaf spring located inside dement 84. Each bracket 84 indudes apertures 86 with which the protrusions locate to hold the coupling dement 84 in place in the brackets 83. To disconnect two attached three-wheeler pushchairs, the protrusions 85 are simply depressed and the coupling dement pulled from the brackets 83. The protrusions have rounded heads so that the coupling dement can be inserted into brackets 83 easily. Alternatively, a connector 68 of the type illustrated in Figures 14 and 14a could be used instead of coupling element 82.

A vehicle according to one aspect of the invention may be manufactured such that all the wheels may be removed. Further, that vehide may be provided with all dements of the connection means. This would serve two functions. First, costs of production may be reduced, and second, from the users perspective, if one of the vehicles wears and needs to be replaced then any suitably specified vehicle will suffice, whereas if each vehide is only provided with one half of the connection means then a specific vehide must be acquired.

Neverthdess, a vehicle according to one aspect of the invention may be manufactured such that one of two vehicles is provided with removable wheels on one side thereof, and that vehide is connected to another vehicle that is not provided with removable wheels, but is provided with connection means for connection to the other vehicle.

The pushchairs may be have only a pair of wheel arrangements, a two wheder pushchair, three whed arrangements, a three wheder pushchair, or four wheel arrangements, a four wheder pushchair.

A vehide according to the invention may indude more than two vehicle units.

Furthermore, there are many variations of the type of pushchair illustrated in Figure 4. The invention may be used with many similar designs of pushchair.

Claims

1. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle comprising at least first and second vehicle units attachable one to the other; each vehicle unit comprising two spaced apart sides and a load supporting means between the two sides, each side mounting at least a rear whed and a handle member; wherein at least the rear wheel of at least one side of one of the vehicles is detachably mounted on the said side; wherein at least one of the sides of one of the vehide units includes a first part of an attachment means and at least one of the sides of the other vehicle comprises a second part of the attachment means; wherein the first part of the attachment means comprises at least two brackets secured to a said side at spaced apart locations, and the second part of the attachment means comprises at least two attachment dements, each element co-operating with one of the said at least two brackets to attach the two vehicle units together; wherein the or each of the detachably mounted wheds are each attachable to one of the said at least two attachment elements, and wherein detaching one of the said detachably mounted wheds reveals one of the said attachment elements.

2. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to Claim 1, wherein the first part of the attachment means comprises at least three brackets secured to a said side at spaced apart locations, and the second part of the attachment means comprises at least three attachment dements, each element co-operating with one of the said at least three brackets to attach the two vehicle units together.

3. A hand propelled load carrying vehide according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein each vehicle unit indudes at least one front wheel.

4. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to Claim 3, wherein each side mounts a front wheel.

5. A hand propelled load carrying vehide according to any preceding, wherein the front wheel and the rear whed of both sides of one of the vehicles are detachably mounted on the said sides.

6. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to Claim 5, wherein the front whed and the rear wheel of both sides of the other vehicle are detachably mounted on the said sides.

7. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein said bracket includes a tapered portion.

8. A hand propelled vehicle, wherein at least one of the attachment element includes a tapered element for engagement with the tapered portion of the bracket.

9. A hand propelled load carrying vehide according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein each bracket comprises a substantially annular dement, and each attachment dement is insertable into the substantially annular dement.

10. A hand propelled load carrying vehide according to Claim 9, wherein the substantially annular element is a tube or a collar.

11. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein the bracket and the attachment element are of the same shape in cross-section, the external dimension of the attachment element being smaller than the internal dimension of the bracket. 2. A hand propelled load carrying vehide according to any preceding claim, wherein the handle member of the side of the vehide mounting the said detachable wheds is also detachably mounted on the said side, and wherein detachable handle member is a part of one of the attachment elements.

13. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to Claim 12, wherein part of the detachable handle member passes through one of the brackets to attach two vehicle units together.

14. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to Claim 12 or 13, wherein the detachable handle member is attachable to the side by means of corresponding male and female connectors, one of the connectors forming part of the side and the other fo-j-ning part of the handle member.

15. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second parts of the attachment means each include part of a locking means.

16. A hand propelled load carrying vehide according to Claim 15, wherein the locking means comprises a spring loaded protrusion and a bore in which the protrusion locates to lock together the first and second parts of the attachment means.

17. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to Claim 16, wherein said protrusion has a rounded head.

18. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to Claim 15 to 16, wherein the stud is located in an elongate member or in the elements detachable from the said dongate member.

19. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to Claim 18, wherdn d e bore is located in an elongate member or in the elements detachable from die said elongate member.

20. A hand propelled load carrying vehide according to any preceding claim, wherein the detachably mounted front and rear wheels are attached to a stub, and the stab is detachably mountable on a free end of one of the elongate members.

21. A hand propelled load carrying vehide according to Claim 20, wherein the stub is detachably mountable on a free end of one of the elongate members by means of corresponding male and female connectors.

22. A hand propelled load carrying vehide according to any preceding claim, wherein one side of one of the vehide units is provided with the first part of the attachment means and the other side of the same vehide unit is provided with the second part of the attachment means.

23. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to Claim 22, wherein one side of the other vehicle unit is provided with the first part of the attachment means.

24. A hand propelled vehicle according to Claim 23, wherein the other side of the same vehide unit is provided with the second part of the attachment means.

25. A hand propelled vehicle according to any preceding daim, wherein the spaced apart sides comprise frames.

26. A hand propelled vehicle according to Claim 25, wherein the elongate member is a frame member.

27. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle according to any preceding daim, wherein each vehicle unit is a pushchair, or a pram having a capadty to carry a single child.

28. A hand propelled load carrying vehide, wherein at least one of the vehide units is a two wheeled pushchair or pram.

29. A hand propelled vehicle as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 27, wherein at least one of the vehide units is a three wheded pushchair or pram.

30. A hand propelled vehicle as claimed in a Claim 28 or 29, further comprising connecting means to connect the vehide units together distal from the handle member.

31. A hand propelled load carrying vehicle substantially as shown in, and as described with reference to, the drawings.