WO2019202543A1

WO2019202543A1 - Drive device for a wheeled push vehicle, such as a stroller, a pram or a crib

Info

Publication number: WO2019202543A1
Application number: PCT/IB2019/053217
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniele ZATTARA; Severino Zocca
Original assignee: Creazioni S.R.L. Unipersonale
Priority date: 2018-04-19
Filing date: 2019-04-18
Publication date: 2019-10-24

Abstract

A drive device (1) for a push vehicle (S) having a frame with a front set (W_A) and a rear set (W_B) of wheels (W), said device (1) comprising a support (6) adapted to rest on the ground, and eccentric means (2) mounted to the support (6) to interact with at least one pair of wheels (W) of the front set (W_A) or the rear set (W_B) of the vehicle. The eccentric means (2) comprise a pair of first rollers (3A, 3B) fitted onto a first shaft (5) to rotate about a first axis of rotation (Ri) and the first rollers (3A, 3B) are keyed onto the ends (4) of the first shaft (5) in eccentric positions relative to the first axis of rotation (Ri) to interact with at least one pair of wheels (W) of the front set (W_A) or the rear set (W_B) of the vehicle (S) and impart an oscillatory motion thereto. The first rollers (3A, 3B) have substantially equal eccentricities (7A, 7B) angularly offset by 180° to impart an undulatory motion to the vehicle (S).

Description

DRIVE DEVICE FOR A WHEELED PUSH VEHICLE, SUCH AS A STROLLER, A PRAM OR A CRIB

Field of The Invention

[0001] The present invention generally finds application in the field of accessories for baby transport devices and particularly relates to a drive device for a wheeled push vehicle, such as a stroller, a pram or a crib.

Background art

[0002] In the field of baby transport accessories and devices, a common habit is to manually move back and forth the pram or stroller with the baby in it to calm him/her down or get him/her to sleep.

[0003] This is a very energy- and time-consuming operation for a user and prevents him/her to accomplish other tasks at the same time.

[0004] In an attempt to at least partially obviate these drawbacks, devices have been developed which can automatically impart an oscillatory motion to the stroller or pram, in both rest and forward moving positions.

[0005] US2004212161 discloses a device as discussed above, comprising a first idle roller mounted concentrically with a first longitudinal axis and a second roller which is substantially parallel to the first roller and is mounted eccentrically relative to a second longitudinal axis.

[0006] A top plate is also provided, which is adapted to cover the two rollers and to engage with the front or rear wheels of the stroller.

[0007] The eccentric rotation of the motorized roller imparts a downward oscillation to the top plate, and this oscillation is transferred to the stroller.

[0008] W09423618, GB1565501 , SE1200541 and DE10321 129 also disclose devices having a first motorized roller facing a second roller, substantially parallel and mounted eccentrically to the first roller, to impart a downward oscillation to be transferred to the stroller.

[0009] A first drawback of these known arrangements is that these devices only impart an oscillatory motion to the stroller or pram.

[0010] The oscillatory motion has a limited beneficial effect on the baby in the stroller or pram if is not combined with an undulatory motion thereof. [0011] A further drawback is that the size of such device is not adjustable, therefore the device can be only used with a limited number of strollers or prams.

[0012] Alternatively, WO2014012647 discloses a device adapted to be applied to the wheels of a stroller to impart an oscillatory motion to the latter as it moves forward.

[0013] This device comprises a concave inner profile with a predetermined curvature and is adapted to receive the wheel of the stroller and a convex outer profile with a variable curvature on the plane of the wheel.

[0014] A first drawback of this arrangement is that, here again, the device only imparts an oscillatory motion to the stroller or pram, as the latter moves forward.

[0015] Another drawback of this arrangement is a complex process is required to mount the device to the wheels of a stroller or a pram.

[0016] A further drawback is that the inner and outer profiles are not adjustable to accommodate the size of the wheels of the stroller or pram.

Technical Problem

[0017] In view of the prior art, the technical problem addressed by the present invention consists in providing a device which can be simply applied to the wheels of a stroller, a pram or a crib and is adapted to impart an oscillatory motion and an undulatory motion thereto, in combination.

Disclosure of the invention

[0018] The object of the present invention is to obviate the above drawback, by providing a drive device for a wheeled push vehicle, such as a stroller, a pram or a crib, that is highly efficient and relatively cost-effective.

[0019] A particular object of the present invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned type that can simultaneously impart an oscillatory motion and an undulatory motion to the stroller or pram.

[0020] A further object of the present invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned type that can be automatically operated with the stroller or the pram in the rest position. [0021] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device as described hereinbefore that can be simply and quickly mounted to and removed from the stroller or pram.

[0022] A particular object of the present invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned type whose size can be adjusted according to the size of the stroller or pram.

[0023] Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned type that has a smaller number of parts and smaller dimensions.

[0024] These and other objects, as more clearly explained below, are fulfilled by a drive device as defined in claim 1 , for a push vehicle such as a stroller, a pram or a crib, having a frame with a front set and a rear set of wheels, the device comprising a support adapted to rest on the ground, and defining a substantially longitudinal plane of symmetry, and eccentric means mounted to the support and adapted to interact with at least one pair of wheels of the front set or the rear set of the vehicle.

[0025] The eccentric means comprise a pair of first rollers fitted onto a first shaft that is mounted to the support to rotate about a first axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the plane of symmetry and the first rollers are keyed onto the ends of the first shaft in eccentric positions relative to the first axis of rotation to interact with at least one pair of wheels of the front set or the rear set of the vehicle and impart an oscillatory motion thereto in a first direction parallel to the plane of symmetry.

[0026] According to a peculiar aspect of the invention, the first rollers have substantially equal eccentricities angularly offset by 180° to impart an undulatory motion to the vehicle in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of symmetry.

[0027] First and second adjustment means may be also provided for adjusting the size of the drive device according to the size of the stroller or pram.

[0028] In a second alternative embodiment, the support comprises sliding blocks at its bottom, that slidingly fit into a pair of longitudinal guides adapted to rest on the ground to allow the support to move in a longitudinal direction parallel to the plane of symmetry with an oscillatory motion.

[0029] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are obtained in accordance with the dependent claims.

Brief Description of The Drawings

[0030] Further features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred, non-exclusive embodiment of a drive device for a wheeled push vehicle, such as a stroller, a pram or a crib, which is described as a non-limiting example with the help of the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are a perspective view and an exploded perspective view of the device of the invention according to a first embodiment;

FIGG. 3A and 3B are rear views of the device of Fig. 1 in two different operating positions;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of respective details of Figs. 3A and 3B;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are a perspective view and an exploded perspective view of the device of the invention according to a second embodiment;

FIGG. 7A and 7B are side views of the device of Figs. 5 and 6 in two different operating positions;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are perspective views of respective details of Figs. 7A and 7B.

Detailed description of a preferred exemplary embodiment

[0031] Particularly referring to the figures, there is shown a drive device, generally designated by numeral 1 , for a wheeled W push vehicle S, such as a stroller, a pram or a crib.

[0032] In particular, the vehicle S comprises a pair of front wheels W, also referred to hereinafter as front set WA, and a pair of rear wheels W, also referred to hereinafter as rear set WB.

[0033] In the accompanying figures, the device 1 is always used in combination with a stroller S. Nevertheless, it may be also used in the same manner with a pram or a crib, without departure from the scope of the present invention.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 1 , 2, 5 and 6, the drive device 1 comprises eccentric means 2 adapted to interact with at least one pair of wheels W of the front set WA or the rear set WB of the vehicle S.

[0035] The eccentric means 2 are mounted to a support 6 that is adapted to rest on the ground, which defines a substantially longitudinal plane of symmetry TT.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4B, the eccentric means 2 comprise a pair of first rollers 3A, 3B, fitted onto a first shaft 5 that is mounted to the support 6 to rotate about a first axis of rotation Ri substantially perpendicular to the plane of symmetry TT.

[0037] Advantageously, the first rollers 3A, 3B are fitted onto the ends 4 of the first shaft 5 in positions that are eccentric to the first axis of rotation Ri to interact with at least one pair of wheels W of the front set WA or the rear set WB and impart an oscillatory motion thereto in a first direction a parallel to the plane of symmetry TT, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0038] According to a peculiar aspect of the invention, the first rollers 3A, 3B have substantially equal eccentricities 7A, 7B, angularly offset by 180° to impart an undulatory motion to the vehicle S in a second direction b substantially perpendicular to the plane of symmetry TT.

[0039] As used herein, the term "eccentricity" is intended to designate the portion of the edge 7 of one of the first rollers 3 whose distance from the end 4 of the first shaft 5 is greater than those of the other portions of the edge 7.

[0040] Therefore, the eccentricity 7A of one of the first rollers 3A is always opposite to the eccentricity 7B of the other first roller 3B during rotation of the first shaft 5, to thereby simultaneously impart an oscillatory motion and an undulatory motion to the vehicle S, in the first direction a and in the second direction b respectively.

[0041] The first shaft 5 is coupled to an electric motor 8 to impart a substantially continuous rotation to the first rollers 3A, 3B with a constant speed about the first axis of rotation Ri , as best shown in FIGS. 1 , 2, 5 and 6.

[0042] The electric motor 8 may be coupled to the first shaft 5 and powered by an electric energy power source through a potentiometric or digital regulator.

[0043] Conveniently, the support 6 may comprise a pair of transversely offset modular box-like elements 9A, 9B transversely offset with a predetermined transverse interaxis.

[0044] Furthermore, the box-like elements 9A, 9B may be placed at the same distance from the longitudinal plane of symmetry p that intersects the first shaft 5 and may be open at their top to receive a respective wheel W of the rear set WB or the front set WA of the vehicle S.

[0045] Each box-like element 9A, 9B is adapted to house a respective first roller 3A, 3B and comprises respective side walls 10A, 1 1 A; 10B, 1 1 B having through holes 12 for receiving and rotatably supporting the first shaft 5.

[0046] Advantageously, the drive device 1 also comprises a pair of second idle rollers 13A, 13B rotatably mounted to the support 6 to rotate about a second axis of rotation Fte parallel to the first axis of rotation Ri.

[0047] In a first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4B, the second idle rollers 13A, 13B may be placed at the ends 14 of a second shaft 15 parallel to the first shaft 5.

[0048] In an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the second idle rollers 13A, 13B may be mounted to the support 6 to independently rotate about the second axis of rotation R2.

[0049] The second rollers 13A, 13B are also housed in their respective box like elements 9A, 9B and are aligned with the corresponding first rollers 3A, 3B in a longitudinal direction L parallel to the plane of symmetry p of the drive device 1 .

[0050] Furthermore, each second roller 13A, 13B is located at a predetermined distance d from the corresponding first roller 3A, 3B to define a respective gap 16A, 16b designed to accommodate a wheel W of the vehicle S while keeping both rollers 3A, 13A; 3B, 13B mutually aligned and in contact therewith.

[0051] Therefore, the gaps 16A, 16B are in the box-like elements 9A, 9B and the wheels W, of the front set WA or the rear set WB, may be introduced therein through the upper openings of the box-like elements 9A, 9B.

[0052] During rotation of the first shaft 5, the eccentricities 7A, 7B of the first rollers 3A, 3B will be adapted to be alternately positioned in the gaps 16a, 16B, and to contact the wheels W thereby imparting a combined oscillatory and undulatory motion thereto.

[0053] Advantageously, the first 3A, 3B and second 13A, 13B rollers may be coated with an antifriction material to prevent the wheels W of the stroller S from rotating, and hence from slipping, during the movement imparted by the device 1 .

[0054] Also, according to an alternative embodiment, not shown, the outer surface of the first 3A, 3B and second rollers 13A, 13B may be specially shaped to exhibit an irregular profile, e.g. an indented cross section, which is adapted to simulate a bumpy ground.

[0055] The above disclosure clearly shows that the drive device 1 is adapted to be used with the stroller S or the pram in the rest position.

[0056] First adjustment means 17 may be provided for adjusting the transverse interaxis I and second adjusting means 18 may be provided for adjusting the mutual distance d of each pair of first 3A, 3B and second 13A, 13B rollers facing each other in the longitudinal direction L.

[0057] The first adjustment means 17 may comprise, for both first 5 and second 15 shafts, a sleeve 19, which is adapted to telescopically connect, with torque transmission for the first shaft 5, two end portions 4, 14 of each shaft 5, 15 to adjust the transverse interaxis I according to the size of any type of stroller, pram or crib S.

[0058] The second adjustment means 18 may comprise, for each box-like element 9A, 9B, a pair of elongate holes 20 extending in the longitudinal direction L, which are adapted to slidingly support the second rollers 13A, 13B and are longitudinally offset from the through holes 12 that support the ends 4 of the first shaft 5.

[0059] As shown in the figures, the through holes 12 and the elongate holes 20 formed in the side walls 10A, 1 1 A; 10B, 1 1 B of each box-like element 9A, 9B are adapted to receive the end portions 21 of the first 5 and second 15 shafts respectively, which transversely project out of the end surfaces 22 of the first 3A, 3B and second 13A, 13B rollers.

[0060] Therefore, the elongate holes 20 allow the second idle rollers 13A, 13B, or the second shaft 15, to move toward and away from their respective first rollers 3A, 3B, or toward and away from the first shaft 5, in the longitudinal direction L.

[0061] By this arrangement the distance d between the first rollers 3A, 3B and the second rollers 13A, 13B may be adjusted according to the diameter of the wheels W of the stroller, the pram or the crib S.

[0062] The drive device 1 may further comprise lock means 23 associated with the second adjustment means 18, and adapted to lock the longitudinal position of the second idle rollers 13A, 13B, or the second shaft 15, in the elongate holes 20.

[0063] As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the lock means 23 may comprise washers or equivalent technical parts adapted to be screwed on the second shaft 15, or on the end surfaces 22 of the second rollers 13A, 13B, both at the outer side walls 10A, 10B and at the side walls 1 1 A, 1 1 b that face the longitudinal plane of symmetry TT.

[0064] Thus, once the end 14 of the second axis 15, or the end surfaces 22 of the second rollers 13A, 13B have been slid to the desired longitudinal position, the lock means 23 may be screwed to abutment against the side walls 10A, 1 1 A; 10B, 1 1 B of the box-like elements 9A, 9B.

[0065] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the support 6 comprises sliding blocks 24 at its bottom 6’, that slidingly fit into a pair of longitudinal guides 25, adapted to rest on the ground, to allow the support 6, and hence the vehicle S, to oscillate in a third direction y parallel to the longitudinal direction L.

[0066] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 the sliding blocks 24 may be placed at the bottom of each of the box-like elements 9A, 9B and the pair of longitudinal guides 25 comprise respective flat bases 26A, 26B adapted to rest on the ground to support the box-like elements 9A, 9B.

[0067] In addition, the sliding blocks 24 and the longitudinal guides 25 may be formed from a substantially U-shaped longitudinal metal section, installed in opposite directions on the box-like elements 9A, 9B or on flat bases 26A, 26B respectively.

[0068] According to a further particular aspect of the invention, the support 6 is equipped with a rod-crank mechanism 27 with a disc 28 rigidly joined to the first motorized shaft 5 and a rod 29 having one end 30A hinged to the disk 28 and the opposite end 30B hinged to the longitudinal guides 25.

[0069] As shown in the figures, the disk 28 may be placed on the outer walls 10A, 10B of the box-like elements 9A, 9B and comprise a central hole 31 coaxial with the first axis of rotation Ri of the first shaft 5.

[0070] Furthermore, the ends 30A, 30B of the rod 29 may be hinged to the flat base 26A, 26B in a longitudinally offset position relative to the first rollers 3A, 3B and to the outer portion 32 of the disc 28 distal from the first axis of rotation Ri , respectively.

[0071] Alternatively, in one embodiment, not shown, the support 6 may be mounted to a single flat base 26 having a plurality of motorized wheels or a plurality of freely rolling balls and a single motorized wheel to be longitudinally movable in the third direction y.

[0072] It will be appreciated that the drive device 1 having the first rollers 3A, 3B, fitted onto the first shaft 5 with eccentricities 7A, 7B angularly offset by 180°, the sliding blocks 24 and the pair of longitudinal guides 25 simultaneously imparts to the vehicle S an oscillatory motion in the first direction a parallel to the plane of symmetry TT, an undulatory motion in the second direction b perpendicular to the plane of symmetry TT, and an oscillatory and in the third direction y parallel to the longitudinal direction L. [0073] Moreover, the foregoing clearly shows that the drive device for a wheeled push vehicle fulfills the intended objects, particularly it can be simply applied to the wheels of the vehicle and impart a combined oscillatory and undulatory motion thereto.

[0074] While the drive device has been described with particular reference to the accompanying figures, the numerals referred to in the disclosure and claims are only used for the sake of a better intelligibility of the invention and shall not be intended to limit the claimed scope in any manner.

[0075] Reference herein to "one embodiment" or "the embodiment" or "some embodiments" indicates that a particular characteristic, structure or element that is being described is included in at least one embodiment of the inventive subject matter.

[0076] Furthermore, the particular characteristics, structures or elements may be combined together in any suitable manner to provide one or more embodiments.

Industrial Applicability

[0077] The present invention may find application in industry, because it can be produced on an industrial scale in the field of baby transport accessories and devices.

Claims

1. A drive device (1 ) for a push vehicle (S), such as a stroller, a pram or a crib, having a frame with a front set (WA) and a rear set (WB) of wheels (W), said device (1 ) comprising:

- a support (6) adapted to rest on the ground and defining a substantially longitudinal plane of symmetry (TT);

- eccentric means (2) mounted to said support (6) and adapted to interact with at least one pair of wheels (W) of the front set (WA) or the rear set (WB) of the vehicle (S),

wherein said eccentric means (2) comprise a pair of first rollers (3A, 3B), fitted onto a first shaft (5) that is mounted to said support (6) to rotate about a first axis of rotation (Ri) substantially perpendicular to said plane of symmetry

(p);

wherein said first rollers (3A, 3B) are fitted onto the ends (4) of said first shaft (5) in positions that are eccentric to said first axis of rotation (Ri) to interact with at least one pair of wheels (W) of the front set (WA) or the rear set (WB) of the vehicle (S) and impart thereto an oscillatory motion in a first direction (a) parallel to said plane of symmetry (TT) ;

characterized in that said first rollers (3A, 3B) have substantially equal eccentricities (7A, 7B) angularly offset by 180° to impart an undulatory motion to the vehicle (S) in a second direction (b) substantially perpendicular to said plane of symmetry (TT).

2. Device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a pair of second idle rollers (13A, 13b) rotatably mounted to said support (6) to rotate about a second axis of rotation (R2) parallel to said first axis of rotation (Ri).

3. Device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that each second idle roller (13A, 13B) is aligned with a corresponding first roller (3A, 3B) in a longitudinal direction (L) parallel to said plane of symmetry (TT) and is at a distance (d) from the first roller (3A, 3B), that is adapted to define a gap (16A, 16B) for housing a wheel (W) of the vehicle (S) while keeping both rollers (3A, 3B; 13A, 13B) in contact with the same wheel.

4. Device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said support (6) comprises at least one pair of transversely offset box-like elements (9A, 9b) with a predetermined transverse interaxis (I) which are adapted to accommodate first (3A, 3B) and second (13A, 13B) facing rollers, said box-like elements (9A, 9B) being open at their top to receive a respective wheel (W) of the vehicle (S).

5. Device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said first shaft (5) is coupled to an electric motor (8), powered by an electric energy source through a potentiometric or digital regulator for imparting a substantially continuous rotation to said first rollers (3A, 3B).

6. Device as claimed in claims 3 and 4, characterized in that it comprises first adjustment means (17) for adjusting said transverse interaxis (I) and second adjustment means (18) for adjusting said mutual distance (d).

7. Device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said first adjustment means (17) comprise a sleeve (19) for telescopically connecting, with torque transmission, two end portions (4) of said shaft (5).

8. Device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said second adjustment means (18) comprise, for each box-like element (9A, 9B), a pair of elongate holes (20) extending in said longitudinal direction (L) and adapted to slidingly support said second idle rollers (13A, 13B) to allow them to move toward and away from the their respective first rollers (3A, 3B) in the longitudinal direction (L), lock means (23) being provided to lock the position of said second idle rollers (13A, 13B) in said elongate holes (20).

9. Device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said support (6) has at its bottom (6’)sliding blocks (24), which slidingly fit into a pair of longitudinal guides (25) adapted to rest on the ground to impart an oscillatory motion to said support (6) in a third direction (y) parallel to said longitudinal direction (L).

10. Device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that said support (6) is equipped with a rod-crank mechanism (27) comprising a disc (28) rigidly joined to said first motorized shaft (5) and a rod (29) having one end (30A) hinged to said disk (28) and the opposite end (30B) hinged to said longitudinal guides (25).