BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view depicting a shock absorbing mechanism of the present invention as being embodied on a baby stroller.
FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the baby stroller equipped with the shock absorbing mechanism of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side elevation view eliminated the wheels of the baby stroller as being equipped with the shock absorbing mechanism of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevation view illustrating the connecting member of the shock absorbing mechanism equipped for absorbing a shock of bump.
FIG. 5 is a schematic side elevation view illustrating the deformation of the connecting member of the shock absorbing mechanism while in absorbing a shock of bump.
FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevation view illustrating the stroller being folded in a collapsed position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention provides a shock absorbing mechanism including a connecting member 6 pivotally connected to at least a rotatable front wheel strut 12 and a pair of rear wheel struts 13 of a stroller frame 10. The stroller frame 10 has a pivotable base 2, at least a front wheel strut 12, a pair of rear wheel struts 13, a front wheel axle 31, a rear wheel axle 51, and a plurality of wheels 3 and 5 connected to the distal end of the front wheel axle 31 and the rear wheel axle 51 respectively.
The pivotable base 2 is mounted on either sides of the stroller frame 10 and pivotally connected with a pair of push arms 11 and the struts 12 and 13. A seat support rack 14 equipped with a backrest rack 15 is pivotally connected between the struts 12 and 13.
The connecting member 6 is partially or all made of a resilient material and formed with an arched shape, when the wheels bumped against an obstacle, the connecting member 6 shall then absorb the shock by deformation responsively to the movement of the struts 12 and 13 and wheels 3 and 5.
In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, the connecting member 6 may comprise a pair of arched longitudinal portions 62, at least an arched transverse portion 61, and a plurality of seesawing mounts 63. The pair of arched longitudinal portions 62 is connected by the arched transverse portion 61 at any mid-portion thereof to absorb shocks in various directions while the stroller traveling on bumpy terrain.
Each of the seesawing mounts 63 has a middle portion 630 pivotally supported by the wheels 3 or 5 via the front wheel axle 31 or rear wheel axle 51, a first end 631 mounted to the ends of the arched longitudinal portions, and a second end 632 pivotally connected to the struts 12 or 13 of the stroller frame 10.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the weight of the stroller and content shall be vertically imposed on the second end 632 of the seesawing mounts 63, that makes each of the seesawing mounts 63 rotates about its middle portion 630 in an angle θ and tilt the first end 631 upwardly in a proportional angle θ′ thereby bending the arched longitudinal portions 62 upwardly for balancing the weight and thereby cushioning a passenger in the stroller.
Referring to FIG. 6, as will be appreciated, the front struts 12 may comprise an upper segment 121, and a lower segment 122, both of which are articulated by a lockable joint 123. The lockable joint 123 has a locked position which controllably locks the upper segment and lower segment in a substantial straight configuration, so as to keep the stroller in an erected position as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, and an unlock position that allows the upper segment 121 and lower segment 122 to pivotally close to each other, thereby to transfer the stroller into a collapsible state as shown in FIG. 6.
While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.
Patent Application
20080029983
