Patent Application
20090302578
1. Field
The present invention relates generally to strollers having an interface for removably securing a seating surface, and in one particular example, to systems and methods for providing additional or multiple interfaces for a stroller.
2. Related Art
Child strollers are well known in the art. Child strollers generally comprise a chassis, wheels, a handle or handles, and seating for at least one child. For example, standard four wheel strollers are generally useful to transport a single child at a walking pace, on a generally smooth terrain, and may be designed to accommodate either an infant or a larger child. Further, double strollers (or other multiple-child strollers) are known. Double strollers generally permit the user to transport two (or more) children in a single stroller. One type of double strollers allows two children to sit one in front of the other, either facing each other or one child behind the other. Such stroller design typically makes them particularly heavy for a single person to lift and adds to the complexity of collapsing the stroller.
Another type of double strollers includes collapsible type strollers with a soft seat, commonly referred to as “umbrella strollers.” While these types of strollers are generally lightweight, easily collapsible and transportable most lack the capability to comfortably carry multiple children. Umbrella strollers which are capable of seating multiple children generally require shared legs and frame members and must be opened or closed as a single unit.
Yet another type of double strollers includes connectors utilized to join at least two strollers together. Although this allows for two separable strollers, removal of the connectors is often cumbersome and these types of devices often have problems with unwanted separating, particularly when the combined strollers are pulled in the reverse direction, thereby making them unwieldy.
Purchasing, storing, and otherwise maintaining both single and double strollers, can present numerous problems. For example, each stroller may be relatively expensive. Moreover, even if a user owns multiple types of strollers, use and/or travel with multiple suitable strollers is often impractical.
According to one example, an apparatus and method for increasing the number of seating interfaces of a stroller is described. The apparatus may include a frame supporting a mounting interface for engaging a seating interface of the stroller, and first and second interfaces, each operable for receiving a removable seating surface (e.g., a car seat, basinet, booster seat, etc.). Such an apparatus may be mounted on the seating interface of a stroller having a single interface for receiving a seating surface, thereby providing two interfaces each for receiving a seating surface. For example, the apparatus may convert a single interface stroller into a double stroller for receiving and transporting two seats.
The mounting interface may include a hub shaped interface, a bayonet style interface, or other interface for receiving a removable seating surface. Similarly, the first and second interfaces may include hub shaped interfaces, bayonet style interfaces, or the like. The mounting interface may be included on a first side of the frame and the first and second interfaces included on a second opposite side of the frame. Further, the first and second interfaces may be positioned at a common vertical height or dissimilar vertical heights.
In another example, a stroller system is provided. The stroller system may include a stroller having an interface for receiving a removable seating surface and an attachment apparatus having a mounting interface for releasably engaging the interface of the stroller frame and first and second interfaces for receiving a removable seating surface. The stroller system may further include one or two seats that may be releasably attached to either the stroller interface or one of the first and second interfaces of the attachment apparatus.
In another example, an apparatus for adding an interface may include an interface for receiving a removable seating surface, and a frame operable for attaching to a stroller and support the interface. The apparatus may further include an attachment mechanism for releasably attaching to the frame of the stroller and one or more wheels. Such an apparatus may attach to a stroller designed to have a single interface for a seat, thereby introducing at least additional interface for receiving a second seating surface.
Various examples and aspects of the present invention are better understood upon consideration of the detailed description below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims.
The following description sets forth numerous specific configurations, parameters, and the like. It should be recognized, however, that such description is not intended as a limitation on the scope of the present invention, but is instead provided as a description of exemplary embodiments. Various modifications to the examples described will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the general principles defined may be applied to other examples and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the examples described herein and shown, but is to be accorded a scope consistent with the claims.
Broadly speaking, and in one example, a multiple interface attachment apparatus is described. In some examples, the attachment apparatus engages a stroller's existing interface for receiving a seat and provides two interfaces for engaging seating surfaces (for a net gain of one interface). In other examples the attachment apparatus may include a single interface that is attached to stroller having a first interface to provide a second interface in addition to the first interface.
An exemplary modular seat system may include a base and a seat configured to engage the base and to be able to rotate relative to the base when engaged thereto. The base can be configured to attach to a vehicle seat or can be part of a stroller, for example. The seat is configured, in some embodiments, to lock in a position relative to the base. The base can also comprise a visual indicator configured to change color (or otherwise provide a visual cue) in response to the seat being locked in a particular position relative to the base.
As described in the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 7,338,122, a base interface included with a stroller may include a base hub having a circumferential lip and a plurality of detents. The seat may include a seat hub configured to rotationally engage with the base hub. The seat, in some examples, includes one or more retractable latches configured to engage under the lip to secure the seat hub to the base hub, and lock into the detents to prevent rotation of the seat relative to the base. In other examples, the base may include a base hub having two retaining bars, the seat including a circumferential lip that engages the two retaining bars to secure the seat to the base. The base hub can further include a retractable locking pin configured to engage the seat hub to prevent rotation of the seat hub relative to the base hub.
It will be recognized that the exemplary attachment apparatuses and interfaces described may be used with various other baby strollers and interface configurations. For instance, although the interface shown and described herein is generally a circular or hub-type interface, examples provided are applicable to various other modular or interface systems, whether rotatable or not (such as the commonly known “bayonet” style interfaces including two tongues of plastic that project from the base interface and plug into a suitable interface of the seat, for example). Additionally, exemplary interface apparatuses may be used with other modular type seating systems, e.g., other types of strollers as well as car bases, rockers, and the like. As such, the exemplary circular or hub-type interface is for illustrating a particular type of modular interface, but is not intended to be limiting.
Additionally, one or more release handles 220 may be included with apparatus 210. A release handle may be used in a similar fashion as for a seat operable with interface 102, e.g., disengaging interface 102 when activated and allowing a user to lift apparatus 210 from stroller 100 and interface 102. In this example, release handle 220 is positioned near longitudinal mid-point, and to the front, of apparatus 210. In other examples, a second release handle (not shown) may be included near a longitudinal mid-point, and to the back of apparatus 210. Of course, it will be understood that release handles may be placed in various configurations and operable to disengage (or engage) a lower interface of apparatus 210 to the stroller interface 102.
It should be noted that other types and configurations of interfaces may be similarly substituted for the generally circular hub-shaped interfaces illustrated in
Multi-interface apparatus 310 may further include handles for releasing (or engaging) interface 102 of stroller 100. Additionally, apparatus 310 may include multiple interfaces on the lower portion thereof for engaging stroller 100 and interface 102 in different configurations; for example, in one configuration where interface 312b is lower than interface 312a (as shown) and another configuration where interface 312b is higher than interface 312a.
It should be noted that in other examples, an apparatus similar to that of apparatus 410 could be coupled to stroller 100 without wheels 414. For example, extending from the frame of stroller 102, but not supported by wheels. Further, apparatus 410 could include a single wheel aligned with the center of stroller 100.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive, and it should be understood that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. For example, various examples described herein may be used alone or in combination with other systems and methods, and may be modified for varying applications and design considerations. Accordingly, the present invention is defined by the appended claims and should not be limited by the description herein.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/060,066, filed on Jun. 9, 2008, and titled “MULTIPLE INTERFACE STROLLER ATTACHMENT SYSTEMS,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61060066 | Jun 2008 | US |
