WO2008010209A2

WO2008010209A2 - Protective enclosure

Info

Publication number: WO2008010209A2
Application number: PCT/IL2007/000884
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yigal Ben Yitzchak; Ronen Carmona
Original assignee: Yigal Ben Yitzchak; Ronen Carmona
Priority date: 2006-07-16
Filing date: 2007-07-15
Publication date: 2008-01-24
Also published as: WO2008010209A3; IL176880A0

Abstract

The protective system for a stroller (12) including a foldable hood (20) fitted to the stroller (12) for enclosing an infant in the stroll (12) to isolate the infant from the surroundings, the folding hood (20) including a transparent section to allow the infant to view the surroudings, and an air conditioning system (4) for filtering the air supplied to the infant.

Description

Protective Enclosure Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to providing a protective enclosure for an infant, and particularly to a protective enclosure for a stroller. Background

Until a child can walk properly, it is convenient for parents to push the child in a pram or stroller, rather than to carry the child. There are a variety of strollers, prams and pushchairs on the market, each of which addresses a different market segment, finding a unique compromise between portability, cost, weight and ease of use over rough ground. The upper part of these devices varies with the age of infant for which they are designed. Prams are used for babies that lie down, whereas pushchairs are better for toddlers that sit properly and take an interest in their surroundings.

The McLaren Buggy is a design classic; it is light weight and folds into a small size, making it ideal for carrying in the trunk of small cars or on buses. By virtue of its portability, it has small wheels which are fine for use on paved sidewalks, but hopeless for use on rough ground or stairs.

The best prams and strollers for use on rough ground have large wheels and solidly built chasses. In consequence they are typically heavy, and are particularly difficult for frail mothers after childbirth to manage. Child carers, including parents, nannies, baby sitters and nurses, believe in taking the infant in their care for a walk in the stroller. This provides exercise for the pusher, not for the infant, but the infant is exposed to the fresh air, sees the surrounding world, and generally speaking, a walk in the stroller is considered a healthy experience. When moving to a destination, such as a play area in a park, for example, it is frequently necessary to transverse some distance. Babies and toddlers can't manage this on their own, and must be carried in the arms or pushed in the stroller.

Occasionally, it is advisable or necessary to protect the infant from exposure to the air. This could be as a result of an illness or medical condition of the infant, or because of chemical, microbe or particulate air pollution, smog and the like, non- conventional weapons, or simply inclement weather conditions. There is a need for a protective hood for a protective enclosure for a stroller to cocoon and isolate an infant from the surroundings, and the present invention addresses this need.

Summary of the Invention

It is an aim of the invention to provide a system for isolating an infant in a stroller from the surrounding air.

The present invention is directed to providing a protective system for a stroller comprising a foldable hood fitted to the stroller for enclosing an infant in the stroller to isolate the infant from surrounding environment, the folding hood comprising a transparent section to allow the infant to view nearby surroundings, and an air conditioning system for filtering the air supplied to the infant.

Preferably, the air conditioning system comprises filters for filtering out dust particles, from the air supplied to the infant.

Preferably, the air conditioning system comprises active carbon filters for removing chemical pollutants from the air supplied to the infant.

Preferably, the air conditioning system comprises a heating means for removing chill from air pumped therethrough to the infant enclosed within the stroller. Preferably, the air conditioning system comprising a cooling means for cooling air pumped therethrough to the infant enclosed within the stroller.

Preferably, the protective system further comprises at least one sensor for detecting characteristics of the air within the enclosure.

Optionally said at least one sensor comprises a thermocouple. Preferably, the protective system further comprises at least one sensor for detecting characteristics of the air surrounding the enclosure.

Optionally, the protective system further comprises a control panel mounted on handles of stroller.

Alternatively, the protective system further comprises a control panel mounted on the folding hood.

Typically, the control panel displays sensed characteristics of the air.

Optionally and preferably the protective system further comprises an electrical power storage device and the control panel comprising control actuators for activating user controllable electrically powered air conditioning means such as humidifiers, heaters, heat exchanges, flaps and pumping fans. Typically, the electrical power storage means is a rechargeable power pack and the protective system further comprises a connection means for connecting the rechargeable power pack to a mains electricity supply.

Typically the foldable hood is fabricated from a polymeric material. Most typically, the foldable hood is rain-proof.

In preferred embodiments, the foldable hood includes a window section that is covered with at least one light filtering coating. Optionally such a light filtering coating comprises a Reactolite® filter that adapts itself to intensity of incident sun light.

The protective system may be retrofittable to a stroller or integral to the stroller.

The protective system may be used by an invalid or by an infant in a polluted environment.

The term stroller as used herein includes a wide variety of strollers, baby- buggies, prams and pushchairs.

Brief Description of the Figures

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, purely by way of example, to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention; the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic isometric projection of a protective system in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention fitted to a stroller;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the protective system of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the protective system and stroller of Fig.1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is an exploded isometric projection of the air conditioning system of the protective system; Fig. 5 is an isometric projection of a control panel for fixing to the handle bar of a stroller, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a schematic isometric projection of a single-unit protective system in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention fitted to a stroller;

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of the protective system of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is exploded isometric projection of the contained air conditioning system of the single-unit protective system, and

Fig. 9 is schematic representation of air flow into the single-unit protective system in inclement weather. Description of the Preferred Embodiments

With reference now to Figs. 1 to 3, a protective system 20 for a stroller 12 is shown, according to a first embodiment of the current invention. The protective system 20 consists of a foldable hood 16 and an air conditioning system 4. The foldable hood 16 is retrofittable to a commercially available stroller 12, baby-buggy, pram or pushchair, for enclosing an infant in the stroller 12 to isolate the infant from the surroundings. The folding hood 16 is typically transparent or at least includes a transparent section to allow the infant to view nearby surroundings.

The air conditioning system 4 serves to filter the air supplied to the infant. The protective system may be used to protect a child in the stroller 12 from the surrounding environment, providing a closed microclimate suitable for the child. The air conditioning system 4 protects the child from pollution in the surrounding environment, including dust, chemical pollution, NOx gases from car exhausts, anthrax or other airborn microbes, whether naturally occuring or as the result of terrorist attack or biological warfare, pollen and other respiratory irritants. The protective system 20 finds application, both where the suroundings are particularly polluted, and where the infant is particularly sensitive, such as where infant is an invalid, perhaps due to a disease, illness or hereditary medical condition, for example.

The foldable hood 16 of the protective system 20 may be fabricated from a polymeric material to be see-through, air proof and rain-proof, to allow the infant to view his surroundings, whilst being protected from the surrounding air and inclement weather.

Whether or not the foldable hood 16 is see-through it will typically include a translucent window section which may be fully transparent, tinted or covered with at least one light filtering coating. Such a coating may include a Reactolite® filter or similar that adapts itself to the intensity of incident sun light.

Although as described, the protective system 20 is typically retrofittable to any of a variety of strollers 12; it may be dedicated to a particular stroller 12 and may be integral to the stroller 12, perhaps co-vended therewith.

Referring to Fig. 4, an exploded isometric projection of an air conditioning system 4 in accordance with one protective system 20 is shown. The air conditioning system 4 consists of a housing 34 with a flap 30 therein to allow air to flow there through. Above the housing, a fan 28 powered by a motor 26 is provided. A heating means 24 may be provided to heat air passing therethrough. The heating means 24 may include high resistance metal wires, for example. A filter 22 is also provided within the housing 34. Filter 22 may include grids for filtering out dust particles, and will typically include a replaceable active carbon filter for absorbing a range of pollutants.

It will be appreciated that the structure of the filter 22 is variable depending on the likely threats to the infant within the stroller 12. Optionally a humidifier system is included (not shown). This may simply include a wet sponge in proximity to the fan

28, for example. The housing 34 has a lid 36, to provide a compact, easily maintained or replaceable air conditioning system.

With reference to Fig. 5, an isometric projection of a control panel 8 with connections 6 for fixing to the handle bar 9 of the stroller 12 is shown. In some embodiments, the control panel is attached to the handle bar 9, or spans and connects the separate handles, for strollers with separate handles.

In other embodiments, as described hereinbelow, the control panel 8 is mounted on the hood.

The control panel 8 or some other part of the system includes an electrical power storage means, typically a rechargeable power pack (shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 9 with respect to second embodiment), and a connection means, such as socket or plug

(not shown), for connecting the rechargeable power pack to a mains electricity supply.

The protective system 20 may include sensors for detecting characteristics of the air surrounding the enclosure, such as thermocouples, for example, and will include a display 38 for showing temperature. The control panel 8 may include a number of controls, including an ON-OFF switch 40 for activating and deactivating the motor 26 and / or other components, a switch 42 for activating the heating means 24, a switch

44 for directing air through the filters to ensure provision of fresh air.

The protective system 20 may be manually controlled by the operator, or partially or fully automated, with sensors displaying sensed characteristics of the surrounding air and of the air within the foldable hood. Reference is now made to Figs. 6 and 7 showing a single-unit protective system 120, according to a second embodiment of the current invention. The single- unit protective system 120 consists of a hood 116 which may be foldable, an air conditioning system 104, an integral control panel 108 and a power pack 1 11. As with the first embodiment, the single-unit protective system 120 is retrofittable to a variety of strollers 112 thereby isolating the infant from the surroundings.

The hood 116 comprises a supportive frame 117 with a fabric covering 118 having two transparent portions, a peep-hole 119a through which a carer can observe the infant and a window 119b through which the infant may view the world outside of the hood 16. An external sun shade 115 may be provided to shield the infant from direct sunlight passing throught the window 1 19b. The supportive frame 1 17 may be attached to the stroller 112 by means of two connecting brackets 113 L, 113 R.

The air conditioning system 104 of the second embodiment is contained and protected by the hood 116. An exploded view of the contained air conditioning system 104 of one embodiment is presented in Fig. 8. A central air regulator 105 such as a fan, a cooler, a heater or the like is flanked by two venting sleeves 103L, 103R terminated by filters 122L, 122R through which air may be exchanged with the surroundings. The two filters 122L, 122R may be individually closed or opened by lids 136L, 136R. Preferably, the diameter of the two venting sleeves 103 L, 103R are different and the two lids 136L, 136R may be used together or separately to close off or open the two venting sleeves 103L, 103R separately or together.

Fig. 9 is a schematic representation showing the flow F of fresh air into the single-unit protective system 120 in inclement weather. The air conditioning system 104 is protected by the hood 116 and it will be appreciated that the side facing inlets 102L, 102R are minimally exposed to the elements.

Thus the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and includes both combinations and sub combinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications thereof, which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description. In the claims, the word "comprise", and variations thereof such as "comprises", "comprising" and the like indicate that the components listed are included, but not generally to the exclusion of other components.

Claims

1. A protective system for a stroller comprising a foldable hood fitted to the stroller for enclosing an infant in the stroller to isolate the infant from the surroundings, the folding hood comprising a transparent section to allow the infant to view surroundings, and an air-conditioning system for filtering the air supplied to the infant.

2. The protective system of claim 1, the air-conditioning system comprising filters for filtering out dust particles, from the air supplied to the infant.

3. The protective system of claim 1, the air-conditioning system comprising active carbon filters for removing chemical pollutants from the air supplied to the infant.

4. The protective system of claim 1, the air-conditioning system comprising a heating means for removing chill from air pumped therethrough to the infant enclosed within the stroller.

5. The protective system of claim 1, further comprising sensors for detecting characteristics of the air within the enclosure.

6. The protective system of claim 1, further comprising sensors for detecting characteristics of the air surrounding the enclosure.

7. The protective system of claim 1 further comprising a control panel.

8. The protective system of claim 7, the control panel displaying sensed characteristics of the air.

9. The protective system of claim 7, the control panel mounted on handles of stroller

10. The protective system of claim 7, the control panel mounted on the hood.

11. The protective system of claim 7 further comprising an electrical power storage device and the control panel comprising control actuators for activating user controllable electrically powered air conditioning means.

12. The protective system of claim 11, the user controllable electrical powered air conditioning means being selected from the list of humidifiers, heaters flaps and pumping fans.

13. The protective system of claim 11, the electrically power storage means being a rechargeable power pack and the protective system further comprising a connection means for connecting the rechargeable power pack to a mains electricity supply.

14. The protective system of claim 1, the foldable hood being fabricated from a polymeric material.

15. The protective system of claim 1 , the foldable hood being rain-proof.

16. The protective system of claim 1, the foldable hood including a window section that is covered with at least one light filtering coating.

17. The protective system of claim 16, the light filtering coating comprising a Reactolite® filter that adapts itself to intensity of incident sun light.

18. The protective system of claim 1 , being retrofittable to a stroller.

19. The protective system of claim 1, being integral to a stroller.

20. The protective system of claim 1 for use with an invalid.

21. The protective system of claim 1 for use in a polluted environment.