Patent Application
20080084040
The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description nukes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A canopy 12 is generally mounted over the bassinet 11. Sometimes an added cover (not shown) of transparent material is fastened to the bassinet and canopy for providing a microenvironment to further isolate conditioned air for the infant. The canopy 12 has side portions to which a fan assembly 19 as shown is mounted on the interior surface. Each side of canopy 12 generally has a fan assembly 19 comprises a housing, a blower fan 21 with motor, and heating element 20 disposed in the housing. The fan assembly housing is attached using Velcro® or similar attachment method to the interior of the canopy where desired when extremes in temperature warrant providing for the infants comfort. Fan 21 blows air into the interior of the canopy for cooling or when heating elements 20 are activated warmed air is provided. The back face of each of the fan housings has an electrical wiring access.
In closer detail, the baby carriage 10 comprises a bassinet 11 for resting an infant therein. Typically the baby carriage has a bedding pad for resting an infant thereon as illustrated in
Canopy 12 is mounted to the bassinet 11 over the open top of the bassinet and as shown in
Generally the fan assemblies are designed for low electrical power requirement as provided by the small electrical generator 13 whereby air is blown out the fan housing only inside the canopy and not outside of the canopy. Fan 21 is driven by its associated fan motor mounted on a drive shaft secured within the housing by electricity supplied by generator 13. Voltage regulator 22 of electrical generator 13 provides for proper voltage variation control.
Battery power sources are generally disclosed in state of the art apparatus. This type electrical power source is unreliable. Since the caretaker is pushing the baby carriage anyway, electrical generator 13 with associated voltage regulator 22 permits a reliable source of energy to thereby exclude reliance on batteries, solar cells, or other not always reliable electrical power sources. Thus the act of pushing the infant in the baby stroller permits both traversing the ground surface and conveniently provides the energy required to electrically operate the conditioned air apparatus.
Push handle 18 extending from the back of the bassinet conventionally permits the caretaker to push the bassinet across the ground surface while providing a convenient place to snap-attach electrical push button control 17. Thus a reliable source of electrical energy conveniently controlled by push button control 17 allows convenient electrical connection of the motors of the fan assemblies by pushing latch and break button 23 whereas latch and break button 24 activates both the fan and heating elements.
For cooling requirements in extra warm weather a pouch for holding a refrigerated cold pack (not shown) adapted to be cooled at a remote location may be added whereby a cover flap with fastener permits opening the cover flap to insert the cold pack before the fan. This permits cooling in addition to the moving fan air alone. Absorption of moisture from the cold pack may also be provided. When the on/off switch is energized to activate the fan added circulation of cool air onto an infant within the canopy of the carriage is provided by this method.
The electrical control switch actuator is preferably mounted on the push handle of the carriage to conveniently allow the caretaker user to push the baby carriage with the push handle while selectively pressing buttons on push button control 17 to allow either moving air, cooled air, or warned air. The general arrangement of the conditioned air components and the electrical schematic shown in
In operation the conditioned air apparatus for a baby carriage described herein allows attaching the components of the present invention for conditioned air via fabric ties, by Velcro® fasteners, elastic hooks, snaps, or loops thereby allowing their use when adverse temperature conditions warrant. When weather temperature conditions are favorable the apparatus may simply be detatched, then stored. At assembly the fan housings are first affixed to the inside of the canopy of the stroller, the control module is clamped to the push handle, then the electrical generator hub is placed into contact with the carriage wheel. Consequently, merely pushing buttons allows the caretaker to provide conditioned air in the interior of a baby carriage thereby keeping an infant therein well ventilated and comfortable during a stroll.
If high temperature conditions warrant the user simply inserts a refrigerated cold pack into a compartment before the fan allowing further cooled air to be blown under the canopy of the stroller keeping the infant cool. An optional temperature indicator keeps the caretaker from overheating a cranky child. In fact heating or cooling can be automatically controlled by temperature switching elements. In these respects, the attachable conditioned air components according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art wherein the fans are fixed in position at construction of the baby stroller and the electrical power is supplied by battery.
This invention will enable parents and caretakers to have a baby or small child outside in hot or cold weather and still keep the child cool and comfortable. In use, rotation of the blower fans by the associated motor draws air into the housing through the inlet opening of the respective housing and forces air out of the outer opening of the respective housing into the area enclosed by the canopy to provide air circulation and ventilation to the enclosed area of the canopy and the bassinet.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of air conditioned baby carriages and strollers now present in the art, the present invention relies on innovations utilizing reliable circulating conditioned air in the interior of a baby carriage for keeping an infant therein well ventilated and comfortable.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a conditioned air baby stroller apparatus and method having many of the advantages of the baby carriages and strollers mentioned heretofore and novel features not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art baby carriages and strollers, either alone or in any combination thereof.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and descriptions in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes, will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
