WO2007138358A2

WO2007138358A2 - Recline mechanism

Info

Publication number: WO2007138358A2
Application number: PCT/GB2007/050304
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Cocks
Original assignee: Micralite Ltd
Priority date: 2006-05-31
Filing date: 2007-05-30
Publication date: 2007-12-06
Also published as: GB0610796D0; WO2007138358A3

Abstract

A recline mechanism for a transporter such as a pushchair or buggy, the buggy including a chassis comprising a rear support (1), rear wheels (2) coupled to the rear support, front wheels (6) coupled to a connecting bar (5) coupled to the rear support, and a seat frame (23) coupled to the rear support. The seat frame (23) is coupled to the rear support (1) by a supporting bar (10), and the seat frame (23) is further coupled to the rear support (1) by a connector (14).

Description

RECLINE MECHANISM

The present invention relates to a recline mechanism for a carrier, in particular a recline mechanism for an infant carrier such as a pushchair or buggy.

Infant carriers are well known, and generally include a chassis to which is attached wheels, a handle and a supporting seat for an infant or small child. The supporting seat mounted onto the chassis is often movable between an upright orientation in which the occupant is sitting up and a reclining position in which the occupant is lying flat, and can also be fixed in several intermediate positions.

A difficulty with such carriers is that movement of the seat between the various positions relies on a mechanism which is complicated and awkward to implement, especially if the operator of the mechanism is carrying shopping or other luggage and is distracted by other responsibilities such as further small children.

According to the present invention these problems are overcome by providing a recline mechanism which is simple and easy to implement.

The present invention provides, according to a first aspect, a recline mechanism for a buggy, the buggy including a chassis comprising a rear support, rear wheels coupled to the rear support, front wheels coupled to a connecting bar coupled to the rear support and a seat frame coupled to the rear support, with the seat frame coupled to the rear support by a supporting bar and the seat frame further coupled to the rear support by a connector.

The above and other aspects of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a side plan view of a buggy according to a first embodiment of the present invention, including a seat in an upright orientation, Figure 2 shows the buggy of Figure 1 with the seat in a fully reclined orientation, Figure 3 shows the buggy of Figure 1 with the seat in a position intermediate upright and fully reclined,

Figure 4 shows the buggy of Figure 1 in a folded, closed configuration, Figure 5 shows an angled, plan view of the rear of the buggy of Figure 1 showing details of the attachment of the seat to the chassis, and the recline mechanism, Figure 6 shows a detail of the attachment of the seat to the chassis of Figure 5, Figures 7(a) and (b) show details of components of the recline mechanism of Figure 6, Figure 8 shows a detail of the attachment means of Figure 5, and

Figure 9 shows a detail of the strut connecting the front wheels of Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a side view of a buggy including a chassis with a rear supporting column 1 connecting handle 2 to rear wheel 3, a connecting bar 5, connecting rear column 1 to front wheel 6, and a linking bar 8 pivotally attaching the connecting bar 5 to a brace 13 on rear column 1. Connecting bar 5 is pivotally attached to the rear column 1 via attachment means 16

The chassis further comprises a seat frame 23 on which is mounted a seat 11. The seat frame 23 is coupled to the rear supporting columns 1 by means of a connector 14, a first end of which attaches to a portion 7 of the seat frame 23 nearest the rear supporting column 1 , and a second end of which is pivotally attached to the rear column 1 at pivot point 21. The connector 14 attaches to, and is held in place on the column by, grippers 15.

The seat frame 23 further attaches to the rear column 1 by means of a supporting bar 10, a first end of which is pivotally attached to a portion 9 of the seat frame 23 intermediate the portion 7 and a portion 17 of the frame remote from portion 7; and a second end of which attaches to the base of the column 1 adjacent rear wheel 3 at pivot point 24. Figure 1 also shows arm 12 for mounting, for example, a hood (not shown) on the seat and in a preferred embodiment this arm attaches to the frame at portion 9.

Seat frame 23 is movable between the upright position shown in Figure 1, through the intermediate position of Figure 3, to the fully reclined position shown in

Figure 2. In moving between the positions of Figures 1-3 the seat frame 23 rotates in a clockwise direction about portion 9. In addition, to move between the positions of

Figures 1 and 2 the connector 14 moves from the position seen in Figure 1 adjacent handles 2 to the position shown in Figure 2 adjacent the attachment means 16 near the base of the column 1 proximate rear wheels 3. In moving between the two positions, connector 14 rotates in a clockwise direction about pivot point 21 at grippers 15 while the grippers 15 move from the position of Figure 1 proximate handles 2 to the position of Figure 2 proximate the rear wheels 3.

Figure 2 shows the seat frame 23 in a fully reclined position, in which the grippers 15 have moved from a position adjacent the handles 2 towards the base of the supporting columns 1, and connector 14 has rotated in a clockwise direction about the pivot point 21 on grippers 15.

In addition, support bar 10 has rotated in an anticlockwise direction about pivot point 24, such that pivot point 9 of the frame 23 in Figure 2 is further away from the rear columns 1 than in the arrangement of the upright position of Figure 1, and seat frame 23 has rotated from an upright position in a clockwise direction about pivot point 9 in relation to support bar 10 to the fully reclined position of Figure 2.

Figure 3 shows the seat frame 23 in a semi-reclined position, intermediate the upright orientation of Figure 1 and the fully reclined orientation of Figure 2.

Figures 1-3 show the various orientations available to the seat of the buggy. When it is desired to store the buggy, the buggy may be collapsed into a closed orientation which takes up less space. To collapse the buggy, the attachment means 16 on the rear column 1 are moved towards the handles 2. During this process connecting bar 5 rotates in an anticlockwise direction about attachment means 16, linking bar 8 rotates in clockwise direction about connecting bar 5 and rear column 1 , and the front wheels 6 move towards the rear wheels 3.

When collapsing the buggy with the seat frame 23 in the upright configuration of Figure 1, the attachment means 16 can move freely towards the handles 2. However in order to collapse the buggy from the orientation in which the seat frame is in the position of Figures 2 or 3, the attachment means 16 will engage with the grippers 15 while moving towards the handles 2. Attachment means 16, when urged against the grippers 15 in the direction of the handles 2 also acts to release the grip of the grippers on the columns 1 and permit the gripper to move towards the handles 2 to ultimately achieve the collapsed, closed orientation of Figure 4.

Figure 4 shows the buggy of Figures 1-3 in the closed, collapsed orientation, with the front and rear wheels brought together, and the rear column 1 , connecting bar 5, connecting bar 10, linking bar 8 and seat frame 23 roughly in alignment. As can be seen the grippers 15 are situated proximate handles 2 and the attachment means 16 has moved to a position also proximate the handles 2, remote from the base of supporting column 1 and rear wheels 3.

In the collapsed orientation the buggy is less bulky than when unfolded and so can be easily and conventionally stored and carried.

Figure 5 shows a rear view of a first embodiment of the present invention, showing two supporting columns 1 and also details of the connector 14, grippers 15 and attachment means 16. Each connecting bar 5 couples to the attachment means 16 at a position intermediate the two supporting columns 1.

Figure 5 further shows the connecting brace 13, attached to the support columns 1, coupling a first end of the linking bar 8 to the support columns 1. A second end of the linking bar 8 is coupled to the connecting bar 5. As can be seen, each linking bar 8 attaches to the brace 13 at a position intermediate the supporting columns 1.

Figure 6 shows the a detail of the connector 14 and grippers 15. As can be seen, grippers 15 grip the supporting columns 1, and are coupled at pivot point 21 to the connector 14. Figure 6 further shows the attachment of the connector 14 to the seat frame at point 7.

Figures 7 (a) and (b) show details of the grippers 15 on support columns 1.

Each gripper 15 includes an upper 32 and lower 33 housing, the upper housing partially enveloping the lower housing and resiliently separated therefrom by a spring 31. A ball-bearing 36 fits into the gap between, and is held in place by, the two housings. As can be seen from the internal view provided by Figure 7(b), each column 1 includes several openings 35 along its length, each opening adapted to receive part of ball-bearing 36. With the ball bearing received into an opening on the column and held in place by the action of the two housings, the gripper grips the column firmly. Pressure on a shoulder 30 of the lower housing against the action of the spring 31 pulls the lower housing towards the upper housing and provides a larger volume between the two housings for the ball bearing such that the ball bearing can be released from the opening in the column. The gripper unit can then move freely along the column until a desired position is reached, when pressure is released from the shoulder. The ball bearing is then received into an opening 35, nearest the desired position, and held in place by action of the two housings, and by this means the gripper is fixed firmly in place on the column.

Figure 8 shows a detail of the attachment means 16, positioned on the columns

1. As can be seen in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5 the attachment means is positioned on the column 1 between the brace 13 and connector 14 and is mounted on the columns 1 by means of respective sleeves 52. Attachment means 16 further comprise a first lever

18 and second lever 19 operating, respectively, a first lever hook 46 and second lever hook 47. A fastening bar 50 links the columns 1 together and provides an anchor for the attachment means 16, fixing the transporter in the open configuration seen in Figure 5. As can be seen in Figures 5 and 8, the attachment means 16 is fixed in position on the columns 1 by action of the first lever hook 46 and second lever hook 47 hooking, in opposite directions, over the fastening bar 50. The first lever hook 46 and second lever hook 47 retain their grip on the bar 50 due to the action of fastening bar spring 49, and in one embodiment (not shown) the first and second hooks 46 and 47 pinch the fastening bar between them.

In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 8, the second lever hook 47 is hooked over fastening bar 50 holding the attachment means in place on rear column 1. Engagement of the second lever 19 releases said hook 47 from said fastening bar 50 whereupon said first lever hook 18 engages with, and hooks over, said fastening bar 50, providing a safety feature assisting in the prevention of unintentional collapse of the buggy. When it is desired to fold the buggy into a collapsed, closed orientation, the first lever 18 and second lever 19 must both be squeezed towards each other in a pinching action, thereby moving the hooked ends of the respective levers apart and disengaging them from the fastening bar 50, thereby releasing the attachment means from its position on rear columns 1 and allowing the attachment means to slide freely along the columns 1.

Depending on a pinching action of two levers contributes significantly to the security of the structure as it makes it difficult to detach the attachment means from the columns, and allow it to slide along the columns, by accident. At the same time the pinching action can be accomplished one-handed and in a simple way to detach the attachment means deliberately when desired.

Thus, in use, an operator may pinch the first lever 18 and second lever 19 together to release the attachment means 16 from its fixed position on the columns 1, allowing and the attachment means to slide along the columns 1 towards handles 2 until the buggy is in a closed, collapsed state. Thus action on the levers 18 or 19 of the attachment means 16 permits urging by an operator of the buggy into the closed, collapsed configuration of Figure 4 by a single action. When it is desired to open the buggy for use, the attachment means may slide freely along the columns 1 until it reaches the fastening bar 50 whereupon hooks 46, 47 will snap easily over the fastening bar and hook securely into position, held in place by fastening bar spring 49.

This can also be easily and conveniently achieved one-handed.

The attachment means is retained in a fixed position on the columns while the buggy is in use, and is only released when it is desired to collapse the buggy into the configuration of Figure 4. To achieve the collapsed state the grippers 15 must also release their grip on support columns 1, which will permit the connector 14 to approach the handles 2. During this process the position of brace 13 remains fixed on the columns 1 and bar 8 pivots about the brace 13 and bar 5 until is broadly in alignment with columns 1.

For added stability and robustness, the respective connecting bars 5 are braced apart, when the buggy is in the open configuration and useable, by a strut 40. Strut 40 is attached, at a point intermediate the front wheels 6, to a first end of a strap 41, which attaches at its other end to the back axle of the buggy, such that when the buggy is to be folded the strap will pull against the strut at a levered mid-point 43 causing the strut to fold and the front wheels 6 to move towards each other as the front wheels 6 move towards the rear wheels 3.

Figure 9 shows a detail of the strut including the strap 41 which attaches to the back axle of the buggy and also shows a spring 41 which urges the strut 40 into the bracing orientation required for the buggy in use.

The arrangement of the present buggy benefits from the support bar 10, rear column 1 and seat frame 23 forming a triangular structure, with the inherent strength of such structures providing robust support for any weight carried by the buggy. Further triangular structures are also present to add to the strength of the present buggy, for example connecting bars 5 provide a triangular structure with strut 40 and each connecting bar 5 forms a further triangular shape with the rear column 1 and linking bar 8, strengthening the wheel base of the structure.

In use, with the seat frame 23 in a fully upright position with the grippers 15 and connector 14 adjacent handles 2 of the buggy an infant or child may be placed in the buggy. The seat may be moved into a partly or fully reclined position as desired by urging the shoulders 30 of the grippers 15 in a direction against the spring 31 to release ball-bearing 36 from the opening 35 in the column 1 such that the grippers can move freely along the columns 1. The connector 14 may then be moved along the column 1 towards the base until the seat 11 is fully or partly reclined as desired.

As the connector 14 moves towards the base of the columns 1, rotating in a clockwise direction about pivot point 21 at grippers 15, a second end of supporting bar 10 rotates in an anticlockwise direction around pivot point 24 adjacent the base of column 1 while the first end of supporting bar 10 moves away from the column 1.

As the connector 14 moves along the column 1 towards the base, the head end of the seat frame also moves towards the base and the seat frame 23, held at pivot point 9 by the support bar 10, is urged to rotate in a clockwise direction about pivot point 9 between a fully upright and fully reclined position.

When it is desired to return the seat to the upright position, this procedure is repeated, in reverse, with the connector 14, and head end of seat frame 23, moving towards the handles 2, the first end of the supporting bar 10 moving towards the columns 1 , and the seat frame rotating in an anticlockwise direction about pivot point 9. Connecting bar 5 and linking bar 8 remain in a fixed position due to the attachment of the attachment means 16 and brace 13 with the columns 1.

When it is no longer desired to use the buggy, but to store or carry it in a collapsed state, first 18 and second 19 levers are squeezed towards each other against the action of fastening spring 49, to release the hooks 46 and 47 from the fastening bar 49 and the attachment means 16 from the columns 1, and allow the attachment means 16 to move freely along the columns 1. As the attachment means 16 move towards the handles 2 of the buggy a first end of the connecting bar 5 will also move towards the handles 2, and the connecting bar 5 will rotate in an anti-clockwise direction about the first end such that the second end of connecting bar 5, adjacent front wheels 6, will move closer to the rear wheels 3 of the buggy, the front wheels 6 fitting between the rear wheels 3 for compactness, as the connecting bar 5, moves to a position roughly in alignment with columns 1. Linking bar 8 will rotate in a clockwise direction at its first end about brace 13 and at its second end about connecting bar 5 such that the second end of linking bar 8 moves towards handles 2, and linking bar 8 also lies roughly in alignment with columns 1.

With connecting bar 5, supporting bar 10, further bar 8 and frame 23 of the buggy all roughly in alignment with columns 1, and the front wheels adjacent rear wheels 3, the buggy has achieved its compact collapsed form convenient for carrying or storage.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment, for example: the rear column might comprise a single entity, not two columns as shown in the present Figures, in which case the brace, attachment means, connecting bar 14 and grippers would be correspondingly adapted to cooperate with such a single entity; the attachment means may be fixed in position on the column or columns by means other than the first and second lever hooks 46 and 47, for example by other conventional means; the means by which the connector is fixed in position on the column or columns may be other than the two housings, spring and ball bearing as described, and may include other means, for example conventional means; the arm 12 may join the frame 23 at a position different from point 9; the arm 12 may support a different feature than the hood; the connecting bar 5 may couple to the attachment means 16 at a point different to the position between the columns 1 as described; the grippers may include alternative, for example conventional means, to attach to columns 1 ; and the front wheels may be stored in a position other than between the rear wheels when the buggy is in the collapsed state.

Claims

1. A recline mechanism for a buggy, the buggy including a chassis comprising a rear support, rear wheels coupled to the rear support, front wheels coupled to a connecting bar coupled to the rear support, and a seat frame coupled to the rear support; wherein the seat frame is coupled to the rear support by a supporting bar, and the seat frame is further coupled to the rear support by a connector.

2. The recline mechanism of claim 1 wherein the connector is pivo tally attachable to the rear support;

3. The recline mechanism of claim 1 wherein the connector is moveably attachable to said rear support.

4. The recline mechanism of claim 1 wherein the connector is attachable to a head end of the seat frame of the buggy.

5. The recline mechanism of claim 1 wherein the supporting bar is rotatably attachable to the rear support.

6. The recline mechanism of claim 5 wherein said supporting bar is attachable to a mid point of said seat frame.

7. The recline mechanism of claim 5 or claim 6 wherein movement of the connector relative to the rear support causes the supporting bar to rotate about the rear support.

8. The recline mechanism of claim 7 wherein the seat frame is movable between an upright orientation and a fully reclined orientation responsive to movement of said connector.

9. The recline mechanism of claim 1 wherein said coupling of said connecting bar to said rear support comprises an attachment means including a first lever with a handle at a first end and a hook at a second end and a second lever with a handle at a first end and a hook at a second end, the arrangement being such that the hooked end of each of the first and second levers are hookable over a fastening bar on said rear column.

10. The recline mechanism of claim 9 wherein said hooked end of said first lever is hookable over said fastening bar in a first direction and said hooked end of said second lever is hookable over said fastening bar in a second direction, wherein said first direction is different to said second direction.

11. The recline mechanism of claim 10 wherein said hooks are provided to resiliently grip said fastening bar.

12. The recline mechanism of claim 11 wherein said hooks unhook from said fastening bar responsive to a squeezing action of said handles of respective first and second levers towards each other, against a fastening spring.

13. The recline mechanism of claim 11 wherein releasing said hooks permits said attachment means to move away from said fastening bar towards handles of the buggy and said front wheels to move towards said rear wheels.

14. A buggy including the recline mechanism of claim 1.

15. A carrier including the recline mechanism of claim 1.

16. A recliner substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.