The embodiments herein relate generally to childcare equipment such as strollers to be used to transport small children and a baby bag used to carry essential of baby care equipment.
Prior to embodiments of the disclosed invention, prior art strollers could fold up but not into a format that could be carried easily or stored easily in an airplane's overhead compartment. Prior art strollers that were available had many moving parts used for support that could increase the weight and production complexity of the prior art stroller. As the complexity and amount of components increased so did the cost of manufacturing. Prior art baby bags store things so that a caregiver could bring essential things to care for the child but they did not supply a built in stroller. Embodiments of the disclosed invention provide a stroller-baby bag combination in a manufacturing cost efficient format and is in a user friendly format
A system is configured to provide functionality of a stroller, a bag and a backpack to transport a child and equipment. The system comprises a frame further comprising a right central hub rotationally attached to a right front leg, a right rear leg and mechanically attached to a right push handle. The frame further comprising a left central hub rotationally attached to a left front leg, a left rear leg and mechanically attached to a left push handle. The frame further comprising a foot rest mechanically coupled to the right front leg and the left front leg. The frame further comprising a rear lower horizontal support mechanically coupled to the right rear leg and the left rear leg.
A left cushioned strap is mechanically coupled to the left push handle and a left adjustable strap wherein the left adjustable strap is further mechanically coupled to the left central hub. A right cushioned strap is mechanically coupled to the right push handle and a right adjustable strap wherein the right adjustable strap is further mechanically coupled to the right central hub. A backrest is mechanically coupled to the right push handle and the left push handle. A seat is mechanically coupled to the backrest. An upper compartment bag is attached to the backrest.
The right front leg, the right rear leg, left front leg and the left rear leg can be rotated into an open position moving the seat distant the backrest and enabling the child to sit on the seat permitting the system to be used as a stroller. The right front leg, the right rear leg, left front leg and the left rear leg can be rotated into a closed position moving the seat proximate the backrest permitting the system to be carried by the left adjustable strap and the right adjustable strap and thus used as the backpack. The equipment can be placed in the upper compartment bag to use the system as the bag.
The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention is made below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals represent corresponding parts of the figures.
By way of example, and referring to
Likewise, right central hub 1 is rotationally coupled to right push handle 2, right front leg 3 and right rear leg 4. Right front leg 3 extends downward and terminates in right front wheel 5. Right rear leg 4 extends downward and terminates in right rear wheel 6. Left front leg 3 is mechanically coupled to foot rest 14 which is further mechanically coupled to right front leg 3. Additionally, left rear leg 4 is mechanically coupled to rear lower horizontal support 27 which is further mechanically coupled to right rear leg 4. Left rear wheel 6 and right rear wheel 6 can be locked to prevent the system from rolling.
Left push handle 2 is rotationally coupled to left swing arm 24 with a fastener 25. Likewise, right push handle 2 is rotationally coupled to right swing arm 24 with a fastener 25. Left swing arm 24 and right swing arm 24 are mechanically coupled to handle support 26 with fasteners 25.
As shown in more detail in
Similarly, right front leg 3 is rotationally coupled to right front swing arm 20a with right front upper fastener 20. Right front swing arm 20a is mechanically coupled to right front upper fastener 20 which rests inside right slide cut out 21 on right seat support 19. Right seat support 19 is rotationally coupled to right rear swing arm 22 with fastener 22b. Right rear swing arm 22 is further rotationally coupled to right rear leg 4 with fastener 22a. Left seat support 19 is mechanically coupled to right seat support 19 by seat horizontal support 18.
Left central hub 1 is mechanically coupled to left adjustable strap 11. Left adjustable strap 11 is further attached to left cushioned strap 10. Left cushioned strap 10 is attached to left cushioned push handle 9. Left push handle grip 9 covers a portion of left push handle 2. Similarly, right central hub 1 is mechanically coupled to right adjustable strap 11. Right adjustable strap 11 is further attached to right cushioned strap 10. Right cushioned strap 10 is attached to right cushioned push handle 9. Right push handle grip 9 covers a portion of right push handle 2.
Left push handle 2 and right push handle 2 are mechanically coupled to backrest 13 by attachments 17. Backrest 13 is further mechanically coupled to upper compartment bag 8 and safety strap 15. Backrest 13 is further mechanically coupled to seat 7.
Turning to
To fold system 100 into a backpack from a stroller, a user rotates left front leg 3 about left central hub 1 until left front leg 3 is parallel to left push handle 2. The user then rotates right front leg 3 about right central hub 1 until right front leg 3 is parallel to right push handle 2. The user then rotates left rear leg 4 about left central hub 1 until left rear leg 4 is parallel to left push handle 2. The user then rotates right rear leg 4 about right central hub 1 until right rear leg 4 is parallel to right push handle 2. Finally, as shown in
One of the unique features of the present invention which facilitates such simple folding is central hub 1 which is shown in more detail in
To use central hub 1, front leg 3 can be attached to outer arm 38. Push handle 2 can be attached to hub assembly 35. Rear leg 4 can be attached to inner arm 40. Hub assembly 35 is configured such that outer arm 38 can rotate from and be locked into an open position, which is useful when system 100 is used as a stroller. Outer arm 38 can be pressed into a channel from the open position and rotated into a closed position which is useful when system 100 is used as a backpack. Hub assembly 35 is further configured such that inner arm 40 can rotate from and be locked into an open position, which is useful when system 100 is used as a stroller. Inner arm 40 can be pressed into a channel from the open position and rotated into a closed position which is useful when system 100 is used as a backpack.
Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above.
This application claims priority to provisional patent application U.S. Ser. No. 61/707,888 filed on Sep. 29, 2012, the entire contents of which is herein incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61707888 | Sep 2012 | US |