WO2021069177A1

WO2021069177A1 - Foldable pushchair

Info

Publication number: WO2021069177A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/075565
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tony Kwan
Original assignee: Armon Limited
Priority date: 2019-10-09
Filing date: 2020-09-11
Publication date: 2021-04-15
Also published as: CN112623012A

Abstract

The invention relates to a foldable pushchair comprising first and second side frames 2, 3, with at least one cross bar 4 or axle 5 bracing the two side frames 2, 3 together in a spaced relationship. Each side frame 2, 3 has a lower rear strut 10 carrying a rear wheel 12, at its remote end, and a lower front strut 11a carrying a front wheel 13 at a remote end thereof, and being pivotally connected at an upper end pivot 14 to the first end of an upper front strut 11b, which is pivotally connected at a second, opposite end to a handle strut 8, by pivot 15, with the lower rear strut 10 being pivotally connected by pivot 16 to the upper front strut 11b adjacent to pivot 14. The handle strut 8 is pivotally connected at its lower end by pivot 17 to a slider 21 which can slide along the rear sloping strut 10, and a link bar 18 which is pivotally connected by a pivot 22 to the slider 21 at one end and at the opposite end is pivotally connected to the lower front strut 11a, such that when the sliders 21, on each side frame 2, 3, are moved along the lower rear strut 10 in a direction towards the rear wheels 12, to fold the pushchair, the handle strut 8 pivots such that its upper end moves forwardly and its lower end moves rearwardly with the slider 2.

Description

Foldable Pushchair

Field of Invention

This invention relates to a stroller or pushchair and more particularly to a foldable stroller or pushchair.

Background of Invention

Conventional pushchairs which are foldable are well-known, and generally comprise two side frames with each side frame comprising a front strut with a front wheel on its end and a rear strut with a rear wheel on its end. The side frames are simultaneously collapsible so that the structure occupies a lower volume when folded to make it easier for carrying and storage. The side frames maybe collapsible whilst remaining spaced apart from each other to form what is known as a flat fold, or alternatively in some models the side frames may also, or alternatively, collapse together to form what is known as an umbrella fold. Generally speaking umbrella folds end up being compact in the width direction but are usually longer in the length direction, whereas flat folds are more compact in the length direction although retain the overall width of the pushchair corresponding to the spacing of the side frames which remains the same.

The present invention is concerned with flat fold pushchairs and the objective is to obtain a pushchair which, in the folded position, is compact and easy to carry and store especially when travelling where storage space is limited, such as in a motor vehicle, train or airplane.

There are number of flat fold pushchairs in existence and it is the objective of the present invention to improve the properties of these pushchairs and in particular in relation to the compactness of the volume of the folded pushchair as well as the convenience of the shape dimensions of the resulting push fold a pushchair so that they can be readily carried and stored when the parent or carer is undergoing a journey using modern transport modes. In addition it is an objective to provide a pushchair which is easy to operate by the user, that is to say it is instinctive to use and requires few simple steps to convert the pushchair from the operational position to the folded position, and back to the unfolded, operational position. In addition it is an objective of the present invention to provide a foldable pushchair which in the foldable state is easy to carry and store in a way that avoids possible debris and dirt that has attached itself to the wheels of the pushchair during use, transferring to the clothes of the user or the surfaces of a storage compartment.

Summary of Invention:

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a foldable pushchair comprising first and second side frames, with at least one cross bar or axle bracing the two side frames apart in a fixed side-to-side spaced relationship, each side frame having: a lower rear strut carrying a rear wheel, at its remote end, and a lower front strut carrying a front wheel at a remote end thereof, each lower front strut being pivotally connected at an upper end thereof by a front strut pivot to the first end of an upper front strut, with the upper front strut pivotally connected at a second, opposite end to a handle strut, by an upper front strut pivot, with the lower rear strut being pivotally connected by lower rear strut pivot to the upper front strut adjacent to the front strut pivot, wherein the handle strut is pivotally connected at its lower end by lower handle strut pivot to a slider which slider can slide along the rear sloping strut, between folded and unfolded positions of the pushchair and in that the slider is releasably attached by releasable slider attachment means between an unreleased state in which the pushchair is retained unfolded and ready to use and a released state in which the pushchair may be folded, said releasable slider attachment means being by releasable by release actuation means located on the handlebar. Preferably actuation transmission means which may be in the form of wire cable means are provided extending from the releasable slider attachment means to the release actuation means. Preferably first and second wire means are provided on each side frame and correspondingly connected to each side of the release actuation means, such that operation of the release actuation means causes the releasable slider attachment means on each frame to be released.

A link bar may be included, which is pivotally connected by a pivot to the slider at one end, and at the opposite end is pivotally connected to the lower front strut, such that when the sliders, on each side frame, are moved along the lower rear strut in a direction towards the rear wheels, to fold the pushchair, the handle strut pivot moves rearwardly with the slider towards the rear wheels, and the lower front strut pivots rearwardly such that when the fold is complete the front wheels are in a position which is adjacent to the rear wheels.

Each slider preferably comprises releasable slider latching means which securely latches the slider to prevent sliding along the lower rear strut to securely retain the pushchair in the unfolded position and which is releasable to permit the slider to slide rearwardly along the rear sloping strut to fold the pushchair.

Each slider may comprise a corresponding releasable slider latching means to the respective rear sloping strut and both are simultaneously actuated by the actuatable release means on the slider connecting means, by means of the actuation transmission means.

To prevent unintended folding of the pushchair a secondary lock may be provided which must be activated before the actuatable release means is effective. Each handle strut preferably comprises an upper rearward folding part and a lower forward folding part which are pivotally connected to each other at a handle strut pivot. The handle strut pivot is releasably lockable by releasable hinge latch means, so the handle strut pivot is locked from movement when the pushchair is in use and releasable to fold the pushchair.

Preferably handlebar means are provided which extend between upper ends of the rearward folding part of the respective first and second side frames.

Preferably the actuatable release means are located on the handle means.

Actuatable latch release means are preferably provided on the handle means which release the releasable handle hinge latch means to enable the rearward folding parts and handle means to fold rearwardly.

Preferably the actuation transmission means simultaneously releases the handle hinge latch means and the slider latch means. The actuation transmission means may comprise a single wire means attached at one end to the actuatable release means and at the other end comprises two separate ends a first end attached to the slider latching mans and the second end to the handle hinge latch means.

Preferably carrying handle means are provided for carrying the folded pushchair on a user’s shoulder.

The carrying handle means may comprises a strap with first and second ends, the first end being attached to the lower end of the handle strut of the first side and the second end being attached to the lower end of the handle strut of the second side. Preferably a front bracing strut extends between the lower front strut of the respective first and second side frames. A foot rest may be attached to the front bracing strut.

Detailed embodiments of the invention will now be described.

Brief Description of Drawings:

Figure 1 : shows a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a foldable pushchair according to the invention,

Figure la shows a rear perspective view of the pushchair of Figure 1,

Figure lb shows a front view of the pushchair of Figure 1 Figure 2: shows a side view of the pushchair of Figure 1,

Figure 3 shows a side view of a the foldable pushchair of Figure 1 in a partially folded position,

Figure 4: shows an enlarged side view of the first embodiment of the foldable pushchair in the fully folded position,

Figure 5: shows a side view of the foldable pushchair in a partially folded position,

Figure 6: shows an exploded view of the general arrangement of the components of the folding release mechanism of the first embodiment,

Figure 7: shows an enlarged side view of the release mechanism in the unreleased position,

Figure 8: shows an enlarged view of the release mechanism in the unreleased position,

Figure 8a shows an enlarged view of the release mechanism in the unreleased position,

Figure 8b shows an enlarged view of the release mechanism in the unreleased position, Figure 9 shows an enlarged view of the components of elbow joint of the pushchair of Figure 1,

Figure 10 shows an enlarged view of the components of the release actuator of the pushchair of Figure 1 ,

Figure 11 : shows a side section view release actuation mechanism, and

Figure 12 shows an enlarged perspective view of the release actuation mechanism.

Detailed Description:

In this description the reference numbers for common parts may remain the same throughout the various embodiments.

Referring now specifically to Fig. 1 to Fig. 5, in one embodiment of the invention, there is a foldable pushchair comprising first and second side frames 2, 3, with a cross bar 4 or axle 5 bracing the two side frames 2, 3 together in a fixed spaced side-to-side relationship. References to the corresponding component parts of each side frame 2, 3 will be referred to by the same reference numeral.

Referring in particular to Figs 1, la, lb and 2, each side frame 2, 3 includes a lower rear strut 10 carrying a rear wheel 12, at its remote end. In the unfolded position the lower rear strut 10 extends diagonally from the front of the pushchair where is form the main seat support, diagonally downwardly to the rear of the pushchair where it is connected to the rear wheel 12.

Each side frame 2, 3, also includes a lower front strut 11a carrying a front wheel 13 at a remote end thereof. Each lower front strut 1 la is pivotally connected at an upper end thereof by front strut pivot 14 to the first end of an upper front strut lib. The upper front strut 1 lb is in turn pivotally connected at a second, opposite end to a handle strut 8, by lower handle strut pivot 17. The lower rear strut 10 being pivotally connected by a lower rear strut pivot 16 to the upper front strut lib and the lower strut 11a, adjacent to the front strut pivot 14. The lower rear strut pivot 16 is spaced rearwardly alongside the front strut pivot 14 by a spacer arm 19. A seat support bar is preferably attached by an upper front strut pivot 15.

The handle strut 8 is pivotally connected at its lower end by a lower handle strut pivot 17 to a slider 21 which can slide along the rear sloping strut 10. An abutment 20 is provided which is fixedly attached to the rear sloping strut 10 at the front end of the pushchair in the region of the lower rear strut pivot 16, and which provides a stop to the travel of the slider 21 when the pushchair is in the fully unfolded position ready for use. A link bar 18 is pivotally connected by a pivot 22 to the slider 21 at one end and at the opposite end is pivotally connected to the lower front strut 11a.

In order to fold the pushchair, starting from the unfolded position in Fig 1., and as best shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the sliders 21, on each side frame 2, 3, are moved along the lower rear strut 10 in a direction towards the rear wheels 12, so from left to right in the Figures. Referring now to Fig 5., it can be see that each handle strut 8 comprises a rearward folding part 8b and a forward folding part 8a which are pivotally connected to each other at a handle strut pivot 33. During folding the handle strut 8, rotates anti-clockwise (as shown in Fig. 2) so that its upper end, or rearward folding part 8b, moves rearwardly towards the rear of the pushchair and its lower end, forward folding part 8a, moves forwardly with the slider 21 towards the rear wheel 12. The forward direction in this sense is the direction in which the pushchair is normally pushed. The handle strut pivot 17 consequently moves with the slider 21 in the direction of the rear wheels 12. At the same time, by means of the link bar 18, the lower front strut 11a pivots rearwardly, so also anti-clockwise in Fig 3, such that the front wheels 13 move towards a position which is adjacent to the rear wheels 12, and the lower front strut 11a ends up approximately alongside, and underneath the rear sloping strut 10, as best seen from Fig. 4. The upper front strut lib rotates relatively clockwise as viewed in Fig 3 and ends up approximately adjacent and above the rear sloping strut 10.

Thus as can be seen from Fig. 4, a very compact resulting folded pushchair is achieved. In the folded position the lower rear strut 10 extends approximately horizontally when the pushchair rests on a horizontal floor with the wheels 13, 14 in contact with the floor surface.

As can be seen from Fig 5. and 6., in this embodiment a necessary step in folding the pushchair is to release the handle strut pivot 33 and completely fold the rearward folding part 8b. This happens as part of the folding action. The releasable handle strut pivot 33 can be seen in more detail in Fig. 6 and comprises releasable handle hinge latch means 37 which comprises mutually engageable first and second releasable engaging means 33a and 33b on each of the forward folding part 8a and the rearward folding part 8b respectively. The releasable handle hinge latch means 37 is spring loaded and automatically returns to the locked position to retain the handle 8 in the straight unfolded position when the pushchair is unfolded. A hinge cable 32a is provided which is connected to the releasable engaging means 33 a, such that pulling of the hinge cable 32a causes the engagement means to be released and the hinge to fold. The hinge cable 32a is connected to the cable wire 32 so that when the actuating pate 34 is actuated by the user, the releasable hand strut latch means and the releasable latch hook means are simultaneously released and the pushchair can be folded. In an alternative embodiment the hinge cable 32a, instead of being a single double ended cable, the hinge cable 32a could be a separate cable running separately to but still connected to the actuating plate 34. As shown in Figure 5 the handle strut pivot 33 has been released the rearward folding part 8b is partially folded, as the remainder of the pushchair is folded. Typically, the user will do this in the same action. When completely folded, an attachment hook is provided on the rearward folding part 8b to hold the pushchair in the folded position.

As best shown in the exploded views in Fig. 5, to 8 each slider 21 comprises releasable latching means 28 which securely latches the slider 21 to the lower rear strut 10 to securely retain the pushchair in the unfolded position and which is releasable to permit the slider 21 to slide rearwardly along the rear sloping strut 10 to fold the pushchair.

The releasable latching means 28 is releasable by actuatable release means 30 located on the handle 8.

Each slider comprises a releasable latching means 28 coupled with the respective rear sloping strut 10 and both sliders 21 on each side 2, 3 are simultaneously actuated by the actuatable release means 30 on the slider connecting means 26, by means of an actuation transmission means in the form of wire cable 32. The releasable latching means 28 comprises releasable latch hook means 44 and a corresponding latch pin 45 and a latch spring 42 in and bearing against a latch housing 40.

In this embodiment the wire cable 32 is located and runs inside the forward and rearward folding parts 8a, 8b of the handle strut 8 which are in the form of a hollow tubes. There are two wire cables 32, one for each slider 21, corresponding to each side frame, and each are connected to the releasable latch hook means 44. The wire cables 32 are guided by bosses 35 up the handle strut 8 and are guided through the handle strut pivot 33. When the pushchair is moved to the unfolded position the releasable latching means 28 are designed such that the pin 45 automatically engages with the corresponding hook means 44 to secure the pushchair in the unfolded position due to the inclined edge 47. The releasable latching means 28 and the hook means 44 and pin 45 are mutually designed, in combination with the latch spring 42, such that when they are brought together they automatically engage. Figures 8a and 8b show the release mechanism in more detail which is the same as in the previous embodiment. The release mechanism comprises a releasable hook shaped latch 28, comprising a hook 44, which engages with a pin 45 to secure the pushchair in the unfolded position. When the wire cable 32 is pulled the latch 28 rotates against the spring 42 disengaging the hook 44 from the pin 45 As soon as the cable is released the spring 42 restores the latch hook 44 to the rest position and when the pushchair is folded again the latch hook 44 is engaged automatically as the slider 19 is brought towards the abutment 20, the pin 45 automatically slides along an inclined edge 47 of the latch hook 44, to re engage the latch hook 44.

Thus the pushchair can be unfolded in a single operation using only one hand of the user, by a pulling action on the handlebar 9 without operating the actuatable release means 30, the pushchair automatically unfolds due to gravity and the geometry of the fold and locks into the ready to use position the because the slider latching and the handle hinge latch mean automatically lock back into the usable unfolded position.

To prevent unintended folding of the pushchair, a releasable secondary lock is provided which must be activated before the actuatable release means 30 is effective. The releasable secondary lock can either mounted to prevent the actuator 30 from being moved or by preventing the transmission means or by directly stopping the releasable latching means from being released, until the secondary lock is released. As shown in Figures 10 to 12, a handlebar 9 is provided which joins together the two handle struts 8 at their upper ends. The actuation of the folding mechanism by the user is provided on the handlebar 9, so that the user can operate the folding release from the handlebar 9. This has the advantage that the fold may be operated with a single hand of the user.

Figures 9 and 10 show the actuation mechanism on the handlebar 9. The actuating plate 34 is arranged to move slidingly on the actuator housing 36, by means of sliding guides 52, against a restoring spring (not shown). The cable wires 32 corresponding to each release mechanism 28 are fixedly attached to each side of the actuator plate 34 by corresponding fixing studs 53. So when the actuating plate is pushed in by the user, the cable wires 32 are pulled around circular guides 51 and result in a pulling of the release mechanism 28.

The actuation mechanism also includes a secondary lock 50 comprising a secondary lock release button 54 and a blocking plate 56 and a secondary lock spring 55. In the rest position the blocking plate 56 acts against a blocking surface 57 of the actuator plate 34 preventing the pushing in of the actuator plate 34 by the user. In order to fold the pushchair, the user must first release the safety lock and then press in the actuating plate. This can be done by the user with one hand, with a thumb of the user being used to first depress the lock release button 54, then to slide the secondary lock 50 sideways, (from right to left in Figures 9 and 10), and subsequently pressing in the actuator plate 34 with the remaining fingers of the same hand of user the to release the fold. With the same hand the user can urge the rearward folding part 8b rearwardly and downwardly and the forward folding part 8a forwardly which also causes the pushchair as a whole to fold to the folded position in Figure 4. Correspondingly when the user wishes to unfold the pushchair the user can pull with a jerking action on the handlebar without pressing the release actuator 30, which will cause the pushchair to automatically unfold to the completely unfolded position and the latch 28 will automatically safely lock the pushchair in the unfolded position.

Carrying handle means 46 are provided for carrying the folded pushchair on a user’s shoulder. In this embodiment the carrying handle means 46 comprises a strap with first and second ends, the first end being attached to the lower end of the handle strut 8 of the first side 2 and the second end being attached to the lower end of the handle strut 8 of the second side 3. Carrying handle attachment means 48 are provided which extend in a direction away from the location of the wheels 12, 13 in the folded position. In this way the carrying handle means 46 can be directed away from the wheels 12, 13 by the user when the folded pushchair is being carried, as best shown in Fig. 3 to avoid the risk of transference of dirt or debris from the wheels to the user’s clothing.

Referring again to Fig. la, a front bracing strut 62 extends between the lower front strut 1 la of the respective first and second side frames 2, 3. A footrest 64 for the occupant of the pushchair is attached to the front bracing strut 62.

Component List

1. Foldable pushchair

2. First side frame

3. Second side frame

4. Cross bar

5. Axle

8. Handle strut

8a. Forward folding part 8b. Rearward folding part

9. Handlebar

10. Sloping lower rear strut 11a Lower front strut lib Upper front strut

12. Rear wheel

13. Front wheel

14. Front strut pivot

15. Upper front strut pivot

16. Lower rear strut pivot

17. Lower handle strut pivot

18. Link bar . Spacer arm . Abutment . Slider . Pivot . Slider connecting means . Releasable slider latching means. Actuatable release means . Cable wire a. Hinge cable . Handle strut pivot a. First releasable engaging meansb. Second releasable engaging means. Actuating plate . Boss . Actuator housing . Releasable handle hinge latch means. Latch housing . Latch spring . Releasable latch hook means . Pin . Carrying handle means . Inclined edge 8. Carrying handle attachment lugs . Secondary lock 1. Circular guides 2. Sliding guides 3. Fixing studs . Lock release button 5. Secondary lock spring 6. Blocking plate . Blocking surface 2. Bracing strut . Footrest

Claims

Claims: l. A foldable pushchair comprising first and second side frames 2, 3, with at least one cross bar 4 or axle 5 bracing the two side frames 2, 3 apart in a fixed spaced side-to-side relationship, each side frame 2, 3 having: a lower rear strut 10 carrying a rear wheel 12 at its remote end, and a lower front strut 11a carrying a front wheel 13 at a remote end thereof, each lower front strut 11a being pivotally connected at an upper end thereof by a front strut pivot 14 to the first end of an upper front strut lib, with the upper front strut lib pivotally connected at a second, opposite end to a handle strut 8, by an upper front strut pivot 15, with the lower rear strut 10 being pivotally connected by lower rear strut pivot 16 to the upper front strut lib adjacent to the front strut pivot 14, and wherein each handle strut 8corresponding to each side frame 2, 3 are joined by handlebar 9, characterised in that; the handle strut 8 being pivotally connected at its lower end by lower handle strut pivot 17 to a slider 21 which can slide along the rear sloping strut 10, between folded and unfolded positions of the pushchair and in that the slider 21 is releasably attached by releasable slider attachment means 28 between an unreleased state in which the pushchair is retained unfolded and ready to use and a released state in which the pushchair may be folded, said releasable slider attachment means 28 being by releasable by release actuation means 30 located on the handlebar 9.

2. A foldable pushchair according to claim 1 , characterised in that wire cable means 32 are provided extending from the releasable slider attachment means 28 to the release actuation means 30.

3 A foldable pushchair according to claim 1, characterised in that first and second wire means are provided on each side frame and correspondingly connected to each side of the release actuation means, such that operation of the release actuation means causes the releasable slider attachment means on each frame to be released.

4. A foldable pushchair according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one slider 21 comprises releasable latching means 28 which securely latches the slider 21 to the lower rear strut 10 to securely retain the pushchair in the unfolded position and which is releasable to permit the slider 21 to slide rearwardly along the rear sloping strut 10 to fold the pushchair.

5. A foldable pushchair according to claims 2 to 4, characterised in that each slider comprises a releasable attaching means to the respective rear sloping strut 10 and both are simultaneously actuated by the actuatable release means 30 located on the handlebar 9, by means of an actuation transmission means 32.

6. A foldable pushchair according to claim 5, characterised in that the actuation transmission means are a pair of wire cables, each extending from the slider connecting means 26 to each releasable latching means on the corresponding slider 21 of each side frame 2, 3.

7. A foldable pushchair according to claim 1, characterised in that to prevent unintended folding of the pushchair a secondary lock is provided which must be activated before the actuatable release means 30 is effective.

8. A foldable pushchair according to claim 1, characterised in that the each handle strut 8 comprises a rearward folding part 8b and a forward folding part 8a which are pivotally connected to each other at a handle strut pivot 33.

9. A foldable pushchair according to claim 8, characterised in that the handle strut pivot 33 is releasably lockable by releasable handle hinge latch means 37, so the handle strut pivot 33 is locked from movement when the pushchair is in use and releasable to fold the pushchair.

10. A foldable pushchair according to claim 9, characterised in that the releasable handle hinge latch means 37 are releasable by actuation means located on the handlebar 9 by actuation transmission means 32.

11. A foldable pushchair according to claims 5 or 10, characterised in that the actuation transmission means 32 is a wire cable 32.

12. A foldable pushchair according to claim 11, characterised in that the wire cable 32 is a two ended cable with a first end being connected to releasable latching means 28 and a second end being connected to the releasable handle hinge latch means 37.

13. A foldable pushchair according to claim 1, characterised in that handlebar 9 are provided which extend between upper ends of the rearward folding part 8b of the respective first and second side frames 2, 3.

14. A foldable pushchair according to claims 9 and 10, characterised in that actuable latch release means 39 are provided on the handlebar 9 which release the releasable handle hinge latch means 37 to enable the rearward folding parts 8b and handlebar 9 to fold rearwardly.

15. A foldable pushchair according to claim 1, characterised in that carrying handle means 46 are provided for carrying the folded pushchair on a user’s shoulder.

16. A foldable pushchair according to claim 13, characterised in that the carrying handle means comprises a strap with first and second ends, the first end being attached to the lower end of the handle strut 8 of the first side and the second end being attached to the lower end of the handle strut 8 of the second side.

17. A foldable pushchair according to claim 1, characterised in that a front bracing strut 62 extends between the lower front strut 1 la of the respective first and second side frames.

18. A foldable pushchair according to claim 1, characterised in that a footrest 64 is attached to the front bracing strut 62.