WO2014071988A1

WO2014071988A1 - Push carriage, especially infant carriage

Info

Publication number: WO2014071988A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/072261
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bernd Fischer
Original assignee: Abc Design Gmbh
Priority date: 2012-11-09
Filing date: 2012-11-09
Publication date: 2014-05-15
Also published as: CN104781132A; DE112012007117A5; CN104781132B

Abstract

The invention relates to a push carriage, especially an infant carriage, comprising a plurality of wheels (14, 18) mounted on a chassis (12) and rotatable about rotational axes (26). At least one of the wheels (14, 18) is designed as a caster (24). The push carriage further comprises a locking unit (36) for optionally enabling or disabling the caster to swivel, comprising a blocking element (40) and a receiving element (44) having a blocking element receptacle (48) which can be moved in relation to each other between a blocking position and a release position, by bringing the blocking element (40) and/or the receiving element (44) into a prestressing state in which the blocking element (40) can be prestressed toward the receiving element (44) and/or in which the receiving element (44) can be prestressed toward the blocking element (40), and in which the blocking element (40) is automatically inserted into the blocking element receptacle (48) of the receiving element (44) when the caster (24) is then swiveled.

Description

Pushcart, especially stroller

The invention relates to a sliding carriage, which is in particular a stroller, a doll carriage, a rollator or the like. is.

Pushcars, for example in the form of strollers, usually have a frame with a push bar or with handles. On the frame a plurality of wheels are arranged, which are each mounted rotatably about axes of rotation on the frame. In order to be able to maneuver such sliding carriages comfortably, the frames of some sliding carriages have at least one wheel, which is designed in the manner of a steering roller, which is pivotable about a pivot axis extending essentially transversely to its axis of rotation. It is, however, advantageous if such steerable wheels can be optionally determined so that they are no longer steerable. For this purpose, there are locking units in the prior art for the selective release and blocking of the pivotability of a steering roller. Such locking units have a locking element, which cooperates with a locking element receiving a receiving element. One of these two elements is movable during pivoting of the castor, while the other of the two elements is so far firm. Both elements can move relative to each other and away from each other, so they are movable relative to each other between a release position and a blocking position. The activation or deactivation of such locking units takes place, for example, by hand or with the foot.

The object of the invention is to provide a sliding carriage, especially stroller, with easily and conveniently handled locking unit for at least one designed as a swivel castor wheel. To solve this problem, a sliding carriage, especially stroller, proposed with the invention, which is provided with

a frame,

a plurality of arranged on the frame, rotatable about axes of rotation wheels, - wherein at least one of the wheels is designed as a pivotable about a substantially transverse to the axis of rotation of said wheel pivot axis swivel castor, and

one of the at least one steering roller associated locking unit for selectively releasing and blocking the pivotability of the at least one swivel castor,

wherein the locking unit comprises a locking element and a pivoting of the at least one steering roller co-moving, a Sperrelementaufnahme exhibiting receiving element which relative to each other between a blocking position in which the locking element is immersed in the locking element receiving the receiving element and a

Release position are movable, in which the blocking element is located outside of the blocking element receiving the receiving element.

In such a sliding carriage is provided according to the invention,

- That for the transfer of the locking unit from the release in the blocking of the pivotability of the or a castor, the locking element and / or the receiving element is set in a biasing state in which the blocking element in the direction of the receiving element and / or the receiving element in the direction of the Locking element is prestressed and in which the locking element is automatically immersed in a subsequent pivoting of the castor in the locking element receiving the receiving element.

In the sliding carriage according to the invention, the locking unit can then also to block the pivoting of the at least one steerable wheel (ie, the castor) activate, if this steering roller is not in the position for straight ahead. So if the steering roller is off the Direction for the straight-ahead, in which it is to be blocked, deviates, can be used, the locking unit, which causes the two elements to be engaged, namely the locking element and the receiving element, are placed in a bias state in which they For example, resiliently biased against each other. Upon pivoting of the castor in this biasing state then finally locks the locking element in the locking element receiving, when the castor assumes its straight-ahead orientation during pivoting. This ensures easy operability of the locking unit, in that the user does not first have to spend the steering roller in the straight-ahead position in order to then block it.

Particularly advantageous is the inventively provided locking unit when it can be operated via a depressible push-button. The push button may be formed, for example, as a foot switch, so be operated with the foot. By repeatedly pressing or pressing the push button, the locking unit alternates between the release and the blocking of the pivotability of the castor. By pressing the push button so one of the two elements (blocking element or receiving element) is advanced, in the direction of the other element. Here are constructions, as they are known from so-called Herzkurven- mechanics. Alternatively, it is also possible to use mechanisms as known from, for example, ballpoint pens, in which the expression can be alternately extended and retracted by repeatedly pressing a pushbutton.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the blocking element receptacle of the receiving element is arranged on a movement path along which the receiving element and the blocking element move relative to each other during pivoting of the castor. As already mentioned above, receiving element and locking element move relative to each other when the steering roller is pivoted. Along the path of movement, the blocking element receptacle is then arranged, into which (at preload) tion of the receiving element and blocking element), the locking element is immersed in case of pivoting of the steering roller, provided that the steering roller is not already in the straight-ahead position to be locked when the locking unit is activated. In another advantageous embodiment of the invention can be provided that each steering roller or a pair of castors is assigned a locking unit. On a frame several castors can be arranged as pairs of steering rollers or Einzelellenkrollen. For each group of jointly pivotable castors a locking unit is expediently provided. In particular, it can be provided that several, in particular two, each designed as a steering wheel wheels of the frame are coupled together via a steering linkage and that the steering linkage or one of the coupled via the steering linkage steering rollers a locking unit is assigned.

According to a possible aspect of the invention, it is provided that the wheel formed as a castor wheel has a pivot bearing with a mounted on the frame first bearing element and a rotatably receiving the wheel or a pair of wheels second bearing element which rotates about the pivot axis relative to the first bearing element relative in that the blocking element is movably arranged on the first bearing element between the blocking position and the release position, and that the receiving element is arranged on the second bearing element and is rotatable together with the latter about the pivot axis, the receiving element being spring-loaded in the direction of the blocking element Washer or plate is formed with a immersion mount as Sperrelementaufnahme for the blocking element.

As already mentioned above, it is advantageous if the blocking element can be transferred by pressing a push button starting from the release position against a biasing force in the blocking position and by pressing the push button again as a result of the biasing force automatically from the blocking position into the release position. For the operability of the push button, for example with the foot, it may be useful if the depression of the push button is at an angle to the movement of the locking element and if the push button and the locking element on at least one inclined surface on either the push button or the blocking element or by inclined surfaces both the push button and the blocking element contact each other and slide together. So that the push button, regardless of whether the locking unit is activated or deactivated, one and the same position (disengagement position) assumes, it may be useful if the push button is biased in the opposite direction to the depression. In addition to the fact that at least one of the wheels of the frame of the sliding carriage according to the invention is designed as a castor, it may also be expedient that the at least one designed as a castor wheel is selectively removable from the frame and can be coupled to the frame. Due to the removability of the castor (and possibly also the other wheels from the frame) this can be folded and stored to save space.

The invention will be explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment and with reference to the drawing. In detail, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a

Sliding carriage in the form of a stroller,

Fig. 2 is a section along the line II-II through the front wheel of

Sliding carriage frame according to FIG. 1, wherein the locking unit for the pivotability of the front wheel is shown in its release position, a sectional view through the front wheel, similar to that of FIG. 2, but in the pivotability blocking locking unit, a view of a heart cam mechanism to illustrate the mechanism for linear back and forth movement of the locking element by repeatedly pressing a push button, wherein the locking pin in his both end positions remains until the push button is (re) operated, a representation of the stroller similar to that of FIG. 1, but in example after a steering operation deviating from the straight-ahead position front wheel and a sectional view along the line VI-VI of FIG. 5 by the locking unit in the state of bias of the two cooperating elements of the locking unit, namely the locking element and the receiving element. Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a sliding carriage, which is in this case a stroller 10. The stroller 10 has a frame 12, which has two rear wheels 14 and two centrally arranged front wheels 18 in this embodiment. The two front wheels 18 are located on a common holder 20, which is pivotable about a (vertical) pivot axis 22, so that the two front wheels 18 are formed in the manner of castors 24. The axes of rotation about which the wheels rotate when pushing the stroller 10 are shown at 26, respectively.

Fig. 2 shows a section along the line II-II through the front wheels 18 and their support and storage on the frame 12. The holder 20 represents the one bearing element 28 of the pivot bearing 30, the other bearing element 32 is attached and mounted on the frame 12. By means of a mounting bolt 34th The pair of front wheels including the holder 20 can be removed from the bearing element 32 and thus from the frame 12 and attached to this again, which can be advantageous for example when folding and stowing the frame. The mounting bolt 34 also defines the pivot axis 22 about which the roller holder 20 relative to the frame 12 is pivotable.

The locking unit 36, with the pivotability of the front wheel pair can be selectively released and blocked, comprises a locking pin 38 as a locking element 40 and a perforated plate 42 as a receiving element 44. The perforated plate 42 is provided with a receiving hole 46 as a blocking element receptacle 48, but could also several such Have blocking element receptacles 48, which would then be that the roll holder 20 can be locked in several different pivoting positions. This is not necessarily advantageous for strollers, but should not be excluded within the scope of this invention.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the pair of front wheels 18 are in a (swinging) position, namely the straight-ahead position, in which the bolt 38 is directly aligned with the receiving hole 46 of the perforated disc 42. If in this position the locking pin 38 is depressed, which is done by pressing the push button 50, the locking pin 38 dips into the receiving hole 46 of the perforated disc 42 and blocks the holder 20 together with the front wheels 18 with respect to a pivotability (see Fig. 3). Upon repeated actuation of the push button 50, the locking pin 38 is moved upward again due to the tensioned spring 49, as shown in Fig. 2. This linear back and forth movement of the locking pin 38 is carried out for example by means of a heart curve mechanism, as shown schematically in Fig. 4. The heart cam mechanism has a heart cam gate 47, in which a pin 45 is guided, which is pivotally connected to the locking pin 38 and the locking pin 38 respectively at the upper and lower connection points of the two typically symmetrical see half-curves 43, 41 fixed in the blocking or release position after the push button 50 has been pressed. Since heart-curve mechanisms are basically known, will not be discussed in detail in the context of this invention in more detail. It is also not absolutely necessary to use heart cam mechanisms for the movement of the locking pin between its release position (see FIG. 2) and its blocking position (see FIG. 3). Also, it is not necessary that the blocking element 40 is a linearly displaceable locking pin 38; along a curve movable back and forth blocking elements are also used in the context of this invention.

A special feature of the locking unit 36 is the fact that the locking pin 38 can be moved by pressing the push button 50 even if, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 can be seen, the pivoting position of the front wheels 18 deviates from the straight-ahead. This means that when depressing the locking pin 38, this can not immediately dip into the receiving hole 46 of the perforated disc 42, which in itself would mean that the locking pin 38 can not be pressed down. Due to the provision of a resilient bias between the locking pin 38 and the perforated disc 42, it is possible that the locking pin 38 can still depress. This is shown in FIG. 6. The perforated disc 42 is resiliently biased in a receiving space 52 of the holder 20 in the direction of the locking pin 38 by means of a helical compression spring 54, so can dodge into the receiving space 52 when the locking pin 38 is depressed and not in the Receiving hole 46 dips. Now, starting from the situation shown in FIG. 6, in which the locking unit 36 is in its position for blocking the pivotability, the holder 20 and thus the pair of front wheels 18 is pivoted, the depressed and disengaged locking pin 38 passes during the pivoting in the receiving hole 46 of the perforated disc 42 in by pushing this perforated disc 42 due to their bias on the disengaged locking pin 38. As can be seen from FIGS. can recognize the push button 50 moves along the axis indicated by the double arrow 56, which extends at an angle to the direction of displacement 58 of the locking pin 38. The push button 50 is also biased by a compression spring 60 in its disengaged position. The deflection of the movement of the push button 50 in the longitudinal displacement of the locking bolt 38 via a push button 50 arranged pressing member 62 which has a sloping or sliding surface 64 which cooperates with the end face 66 of the locking bolt 38 and slides along this end face 66, when the push button 50 is actuated.

Claims

claims

1. sliding carriage, especially stroller, with

a frame (12),

a plurality of wheels (14, 18) arranged on the frame (12) and rotatable about axes of rotation (26),

wherein at least one of the wheels (14, 18) is constructed as a swiveling steering roller (24) pivotable about a pivot axis (22) extending substantially transversely to the axis of rotation of the said wheel, and a locking unit associated with the at least one steering roller (24) ( 36) for selectively releasing and blocking the pivotability of the at least one steering roller (24),

wherein the locking unit comprises a locking element (40) and a receiving element (44), which has a blocking element receptacle (48) and moves relative to each other between a blocking element receptacle (48), in which the blocking element (40 ) is immersed in the blocking element receptacle (48) of the receiving element (44) and can be moved to a release position, in which the blocking element (40) is located outside the blocking element receptacle (48) of the receiving element (44),

characterized,

in that the locking element (40) is displaceable in the direction in which the locking element (40) and / or the receiving element (44) is transferred for the purpose of transferring the locking unit from the release into the blocking of the pivotability of the steering roller or rollers (24) the receiving element (44) and / or the receiving element (44) can be prestressed in the direction of the blocking element (40) and in which the blocking element (40) is automatically inserted into the blocking element receptacle (48) of the receiving element (30) during a subsequent pivoting of the steering roller (24). 44) dips.

2. sliding carriage according to claim 1, characterized in that the blocking element receptacle (48) of the receiving element (44) is arranged on a movement path along which the receiving element (44) and the locking element (40) during pivoting of the steering roller (24) relative to each other move.

3. sliding carriage according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each steering roller (24) or a pair of castors (24) is associated with a locking unit (36).

4. sliding carriage according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a plurality, in particular two, each as a steering roller (24) formed wheels of the frame (12) are coupled together via a steering linkage and that the steering linkage or one of the coupled via the steering linkage steering rollers (24) is associated with a locking unit (36).

5. sliding carriage according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the steering roller (24) formed wheel a pivot bearing (30) with a frame (12) mounted first bearing element (32) and one the wheel or a pair of wheels rotatably receiving second bearing member (20) which is rotatable about the pivot axis (22) relative to the first bearing member (32), that the locking element (40) on the first bearing element (32) between the blocking position and the release position is movably arranged and that the receiving element (44) on the second bearing element (20) is arranged and together with this about the pivot axis (22) is rotatable, wherein the receiving element (44) as in the direction of the locking element (40) biased, spring-loaded disc or plate with a Immersion receptacle is formed as a blocking element receptacle (48) for the blocking element (40).

6. sliding carriage according to claim 1 to 5, characterized in that the blocking element (40) by pressing a push button (50), starting from the release position against a biasing force in the blocking position transferred and by pressing the push button (50) in consequence of the biasing force automatically from the blocking position into the release position can be transferred.

7. sliding carriage according to claim 6, characterized in that the depressing movement of the push button (50) extends at an angle to the movement of the locking element (40) and that the push button (50) and the locking element (40) over at least one inclined surface on either the push button (50 ) or the blocking element (40) or by inclined surfaces on both the push button (50) and the blocking element (40) contact each other and slide against each other.

8. sliding carriage according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the push button (50) is biased in the direction of depression opposite direction.

9. sliding carriage according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the at least one as a steering roller (24) formed wheel optionally from the frame (12) removable and to the frame (12) can be coupled.