The present disclosure relates to collapsible strollers for juveniles, and particularly to strollers including a collapsible frame assembly, a seat, and several wheels. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to collapsible frame assemblies for juvenile strollers.
Juvenile strollers are used widely to transport young children. Foldable strollers including collapsible frame assemblies that can be placed in vehicle trunks or storage areas. Caregivers appreciate compact foldable strollers that are easy to fold and that do not require a lot of storage space so that space is available onboard a vehicle or elsewhere for storage of other items.
A compact collapsible stroller in accordance with the present disclosure includes a mobile cart and a seat coupled to the mobile cart. The mobile cart includes a foldable frame that supports the seat.
In illustrative embodiments, the mobile cart of the stroller comprises a rolling base, a foldable frame mounted on the rolling base, and a frame-motion controller adapted to control movement of the foldable frame relative to the rolling base. The foldable frame includes a base stabilizer having a front wheel and a base pusher having a push handle each coupled to the rolling base to pivot about respective pivot axes. The frame-motion controller includes a pivot lock with a fold handle for freeing the foldable frame components to fold in and a movement linkage that coordinates movement of the base stabilizer and the base pusher so that they are simultaneously folded-in or folded out relative to the rolling base.
In illustrative embodiments, the foldable frame moves between a folded-out position for supporting a child and a folded-in position for storage of the stroller. The pivot lock of the frame-motion controller operates to block or allow movement of the foldable frame from the folded-out position to the folded-in position. The pivot lock includes left and right locking units and a fold handle that interconnects the locking units. The fold handle extends through the seat and is accessible to a caregiver when a child is not supported in the seat. When a caregiver pulls the fold handle, the pivot lock allows movement of the foldable frame from the folded-out position to the folded-in position.
In illustrative embodiments, each locking unit of the pivot lock includes a housing coupled to the rolling base, a motion blocker mounted in the housing to slide within the housing, and a lever coupled to the fold handle and mounted to the rolling base to pivot when a caregiver pulls the fold handle. The motion blocker slides between a first position arranged to block the components of the foldable frame from pivoting about their respective axes and a second position arranged to allow the components of the foldable frame to pivot about their respective axes. The lever pivots to push the motion blocker to the second position when a user pulls the fold handle.
In illustrative embodiments, the movement linkage of the frame-motion controller includes left and right links that couple the base stabilizer and the base pusher. The left and right links are coordinate movement of the base stabilizer and the base pusher during motion of the foldable frame between the folded-out position and the folded-in position. Each link of the movement linkage is pivotably coupled to a stabilizer-link support included in the base stabilizer and to a pusher-link support included in the base pusher. The stabilizer-link support is offset from the pivot axis about which the base stabilizer pivots relative to the rolling base and the pusher-link support is offset from the pivot axis about which the base pusher pivots relative to the rolling base. Each link of the movement linkage is illustratively a generally z-shaped rod with ends received in the stabilizer-link support and in the pusher-link support.
Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
A compact collapsible stroller 10 in accordance with the present disclosure is shown in
Rolling base 20 of the mobile cart 12 illustratively includes a left leg 201 and a right leg 202 as shown in
Foldable frame 24 includes a base stabilizer 26 having a front wheel 23 and a base pusher 28 having a push handle 31 as shown in
In the folded-out position, the base stabilizer 26 and the base pusher 28 extend away from the rolling base 20 to support a child sitting on a seat mounted to the mobile cart when the mobile cart is in use as shown, for example, in
Frame-motion controller 25 is illustratively adapted to provide fold means (1) for releasing foldable frame 24 to move from a folded-out position in which base stabilizer 26 and base pusher 28 extend away from rolling base 20 to support a child sitting on a seat mounted to mobile cart 12 when mobile cart 12 is in use to a folded-in position in which base stabilizer 26 and base pusher 28 extend along rolling base 20 reducing the footprint of mobile cart 12 to allow storage of mobile cart 12 and stroller 10 in response to a user lifting upwardly with one hand on fold handle 40 included in frame-motion controller 25 and (2) for coordinating movement of base stabilizer 26 included in foldable frame 24 and base pusher 28 included in foldable frame 24 as they move from the folded-out position to the folded-in position in response to continued upward lifting of fold handle 40 with one hand by a user that causes a gravitational force to pull base stabilizer 26 and base pusher 28 of foldable frame 24 toward the folded-in position so that a user can move foldable frame 24 from the folded-out position to the folded-in position for storage using only a first hand freeing a second hand to carry a child.
In the illustrative embodiment, frame-motion controller 25 includes a pivot lock 30 and a movement linkage 32 that interconnects the base stabilizer 26 and the base pusher 28 during movement of the foldable frame 24 as shown in
Pivot lock 30 illustratively includes left and right locking units 36, 38 and a fold handle 40 that extends between and interconnects the locking units 36, 38 as shown in
Each locking unit 36, 38 of pivot lock 30 is substantially similar and right locking unit 38 shown in
Motion blocker 44 slides between a first position shown in
Lever 46 is coupled to rolling base 20 by a bracket 45 to pivot about a lever-pivot axis 46A as shown in
Movement linkage 32 of frame-motion controller 25 includes left and right links 66, 68 that couple base stabilizer 26 and base pusher 28 as suggested in
Each link 66, 68 of movement linkage 32 is pivotably coupled to a stabilizer-link support 76 included in pivot hub 56 of base stabilizer 26 and to a pusher-link support 78 included in pivot hub 58 of base pusher 28. The stabilizer-link support 76 is offset from the stabilizer-pivot axis 26A about which base stabilizer 26 pivots relative to rolling base 20 and pusher-link support 78 is offset from the pusher-pivot axis 28A about which base pusher 28 pivots relative to rolling base 20. Each link 66, 68 of movement linkage 32 is illustratively a generally z-shaped rod with ends 681, 682 received in a stabilizer-link support 76 and in a pusher-link support 78 for rotative bearing engagement therewith.
Seat 14 is illustratively made from fabric stretched across a frame as suggested in
Rolling base 20 in the illustrative embodiment has two spaced-apart, generally straight legs 201, 202 as shown in
Base stabilizer 26 of the foldable frame 24 illustratively includes a front wheel 23, a U-shaped stabilizer frame member 223, and pivot hubs 56 as suggested in
Each of the left and the right pivot hubs 56 included in the base stabilizer 26 is coupled to a corresponding housing 42 for rotation about axis 26A as shown in
In the illustrative embodiment, fingers 561 of pivot hubs 56 included in base stabilizer 26 are shaped to move left and right pivot locks 36, 38 to the unlocked position during expansion of collapsible stroller 10 so that a user need not lift fold handle 40 when unfolding foldable frame 24. In the exemplary embodiment, fingers 561 of pivot hubs 56 are formed to include an engagement surface 561E and a cam surface 561C as shown in
Engagement surface 561E of each of finger 561 is arranged to extend at a right angle from stabilizer frame member 223 and to be engaged by motion blockers 44 of corresponding left and right pivot locks 36, 38 to block rotation of base stabilizer 26 relative to rolling base 20 when foldable frame 24 is in the folded-out position and motion blockers 44 of left and the right pivot locks 36, 38 are in the locked position. Cam surface 561C of each of fingers 561 included in base stabilizer 26 are arranged to extend at an obtuse cam angle from stabilizer frame member 223 and to push pins 52 of motion blockers 44 included in pivot locks 36, 38 from the locked position to the unlocked position during movement of foldable frame 24 from the folded-in position to the folded-out position.
Base pusher 28 of foldable frame 24 illustratively includes a U-shaped pusher frame member 228 and pivot hubs 58 as suggested in
Each of the left and the right pivot hubs 58 included in the base pusher 28 is coupled to a corresponding housing 42 for rotation about axis 28A as shown in
In the illustrative embodiment, fingers 581 of pivot hubs 58 included in base pusher 28 are shaped to move left and right pivot locks 36, 38 to the unlocked position during expansion of collapsible stroller 10 so that a user need not lift fold handle 40 when unfolding foldable frame 24. In the exemplary embodiment, fingers 581 of pivot hubs 58 are formed to include an engagement surface 581E and a cam surface 581C as shown in
Engagement surface 581E of each of finger 581 is arranged to extend at a right angle from pusher frame member 228 and to be engaged by motion blockers 44 of corresponding left and right pivot locks 36, 38 to block rotation of base pusher 28 relative to rolling base 20 when foldable frame 24 is in the folded-out position and motion blockers 44 of left and the right pivot locks 36, 38 are in the locked position. Cam surface 581C of each of fingers 581 of pivot hubs 58 included in base pusher 28 is arranged to extend at an obtuse cam angle from pusher frame member 228 and to push pins 52 of motion blockers 44 included in pivot locks 36, 38 from the locked position to the unlocked position during movement of foldable frame 24 from the folded-in position to the folded-out position.
A folding stroller concept in accordance with the present disclosure provides a method of synchronizing the movement of the metal tubes 223, 228 as stroller 10 is folded and unfolded. The locking method includes a lock lever 46 that directly pushes on the lock slider 44. The smaller ends of the two lock lever parts 46 are connected by a cloth webbing strap 40. Pulling up on the cloth strap 40 has the effect of pulling the lower ends of the two lock levers 46 towards each other, which pulls the lock slider 44 down. Initially, the lock pin 52 in the lock slider 44 is between extended tabs 561, 581 on the lower parts of the hub front 56 and hub back 58, preventing them from moving towards each other, which locks the system in the open position. But when the lock slider 44 moves down, the lock pin 52 is free of this gap between the hubs 56, 58, and the stroller 10 is free to fold.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/926,078, filed Jan. 10, 2014, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
400478 | Paine | Apr 1889 | A |
583719 | Wilhelm et al. | Jun 1897 | A |
585336 | Foss | Jun 1897 | A |
585337 | Gessler | Jun 1897 | A |
585338 | Gutiirie | Jun 1897 | A |
593007 | Bean | Nov 1897 | A |
601467 | Heise | Mar 1898 | A |
602819 | William | Apr 1898 | A |
608254 | Eisenmann | Aug 1898 | A |
614541 | Fischer | Nov 1898 | A |
615461 | Peirce | Dec 1898 | A |
617239 | Eastman | Jan 1899 | A |
667760 | Benton | Feb 1901 | A |
5988670 | Song et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
6068284 | Kakuda | May 2000 | A |
6095548 | Baechler | Aug 2000 | A |
6102431 | Sutherland | Aug 2000 | A |
6155740 | Hartenstine | Dec 2000 | A |
6766930 | Dixon et al. | Jul 2004 | B2 |
6827365 | Yeh | Dec 2004 | B2 |
6877760 | Wang | Apr 2005 | B2 |
6910708 | Sack et al. | Jun 2005 | B2 |
6921102 | Hsia | Jul 2005 | B2 |
7021650 | Chen | Apr 2006 | B2 |
7422230 | Chuan | Sep 2008 | B2 |
7510208 | Lochmueller | Mar 2009 | B1 |
7543840 | Lin | Jun 2009 | B2 |
7658399 | Van Dijk | Feb 2010 | B2 |
7832756 | Storm | Nov 2010 | B2 |
8033555 | Mostert et al. | Oct 2011 | B2 |
8066300 | Ohnishi | Nov 2011 | B2 |
8191919 | Wang | Jun 2012 | B2 |
8215661 | Van Dijk | Jul 2012 | B2 |
8322744 | Ahnert | Dec 2012 | B2 |
8496263 | Wu et al. | Jul 2013 | B2 |
8628109 | Daley et al. | Jan 2014 | B2 |
8696015 | Karremans | Apr 2014 | B2 |
8783708 | Storm et al. | Jul 2014 | B2 |
8789843 | Pearce | Jul 2014 | B2 |
8844960 | Young et al. | Sep 2014 | B2 |
8870213 | Xu | Oct 2014 | B1 |
8936267 | Li et al. | Jan 2015 | B2 |
8985616 | Chen | Mar 2015 | B1 |
8991854 | Greger | Mar 2015 | B2 |
9085312 | Liu | Jul 2015 | B2 |
9193373 | Fjelland | Nov 2015 | B2 |
9315205 | Chuah | Apr 2016 | B2 |
20020093157 | Turner et al. | Jul 2002 | A1 |
20020093158 | Turner et al. | Jul 2002 | A1 |
20020093159 | Turner et al. | Jul 2002 | A1 |
20020093160 | Mendenhall | Jul 2002 | A1 |
20020093178 | Turner et al. | Jul 2002 | A1 |
20020109321 | Turner et al. | Aug 2002 | A1 |
20030218306 | Dixon et al. | Nov 2003 | A1 |
20050098981 | Chang | May 2005 | A1 |
20060071451 | Cheng | Apr 2006 | A1 |
20060082104 | Wun | Apr 2006 | A1 |
20090115151 | Van Dijk | May 2009 | A1 |
20090121454 | Tomasi | May 2009 | A1 |
20090256406 | Schrooten | Oct 2009 | A1 |
20100127480 | Ahnert | May 2010 | A1 |
20110012325 | Gower | Jan 2011 | A1 |
20120025491 | Li | Feb 2012 | A1 |
20120049485 | Lin | Mar 2012 | A1 |
20120056408 | Wu et al. | Mar 2012 | A1 |
20120086187 | Daley et al. | Apr 2012 | A1 |
20120187660 | Liao | Jul 2012 | A1 |
20120292888 | Lai | Nov 2012 | A1 |
20130113186 | Rembisz | May 2013 | A1 |
20140327233 | Greger | Nov 2014 | A1 |
20140339793 | Xu | Nov 2014 | A1 |
20140339794 | Pearce | Nov 2014 | A1 |
20150008659 | Chang | Jan 2015 | A1 |
20150197268 | Dowd | Jul 2015 | A1 |
20150321689 | Liu | Nov 2015 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2357334 | Jul 2002 | CA |
2367260 | Jul 2002 | CA |
2367263 | Jul 2002 | CA |
2367545 | Jul 2002 | CA |
2367558 | Jul 2002 | CA |
2367580 | Jul 2002 | CA |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20150197268 A1 | Jul 2015 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61926078 | Jan 2014 | US |