Patent Application
20210323390
The present invention relates to a retractable weather protection screen. In particular it relates to a retractable weather protection screen supported by a coiling support member. Even more particularly the invention relates to a retractable weather protection screen supported by a coiling support member for use with prams/buggies/mobility scooters and the like.
Rain and storm protection for baby strollers is well known. The rain covers traditionally consist of joined plastic sheets adapted to fit on the stroller. As a form of rain and storm protection, they do the job well, and when new the plastic sheets are clear and the child's field of view is little affected.
However, during the lifetime of a traditional rain and storm protector for a baby stroller, the protector is repeatedly stored and deployed. Moving back and forth between stored and deployed positions, especially as the rain protector is often stored under the pram in a hastily crumpled manner, rapidly causes creases to form in the rain protector and as a result the clarity of the plastic sheets deteriorates. This means there is no longer clear vision through the sheet and the viewing experience for the child is greatly diminished. It is also more difficult for the individual pushing the stroller to check on the child.
Another disadvantage of traditional rain protectors is that they can be difficult to deploy quickly when caught out by sudden rain, as many protectors do not form an integral part of the stroller.
EP0913312 discloses a holder for a folded rain-cover, removably fastened to a baby's pram or stroller, comprising a removable spring-loaded roller. The roller can be attached to the rain-cover in order to roll it up when not in use. This makes it easier to put a rain cover away, but still involves a complex procedure including several detachable parts.
GB2358615 disclose a rain-cover for a pram deployable from a rolled-up configuration in a storage cylinder. This provides a convenient method of storage and deployment, but the rain-cover itself has no supporting structure, which may lead to creasing and jamming when it is being stowed.
It is an object of the current invention to provide a rain and storm protector which is easily transitioned between the stored and deployed position and does not damage the clear/transparent properties of the protector through standard use.
A first aspect of the invention provides a weather protection screen comprising a transparent flexible waterproof sheet, characterised in that the weather protection screen further comprises a rotatable shaft, and two coiling support members fixed at their proximal ends to the rotatable shaft proximate respective opposite ends of the rotatable shaft; wherein: the transparent flexible waterproof sheet is mounted between the two coiling support members; and the coiling support members and transparent flexible waterproof sheet are movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, such that, when in the stowed configuration, the coiling support members and the transparent flexible waterproof sheet are wrapped around the rotatable shaft in a would arrangement, and when in the deployed configuration, the transparent flexible waterproof sheet and at least the corresponding portions of the coiling support members are unwound and extended from the rotatable shaft, having a qualitatively opposite curvature to the wound arrangement of the stowed configuration.
This arrangement provides a very convenient weather protection screen which is easy to stow and deploy, since no dismantling or folding is necessary. Instead, the transparent flexible waterproof sheet simply extends into position for use, retaining a suitable shape according to the curvature of the deployed coiling support members. Similarly, the transparent flexible waterproof sheet simply returns into a stowed configuration, being neatly rolled up around the rotatable shaft, maintaining a neat rollable configuration during the process thanks to the coiling support members. In this way, the transparent flexible waterproof sheet can be stowed and deployed many times without being damaged, and without losing transparency.
In some embodiments, the rotatable shaft comprises an elongate cylinder secured at each end to respective rotatable clutch mechanisms. This provides a deployment and stowing action similar to a conventional roller blind. Roller blinds are well known for repeatedly stowing and deploying a flexible sheet without creasing or damaging it.
In some such embodiments, at least one of the clutch mechanisms may be spring loaded and lockable in a deployed position, such that, when released from the locked state, the rotatable shaft is resiliently biased to the stowed configuration. In this way, stowing the weather protection screen is quick and easy.
In other such embodiments, at least one of the clutch mechanisms may be driven by an electric motor. In such embodiments, suitable control and power apparatus, such as a bi-directional drive switch and a battery, are provided. This allows for easy, one handed deployment and stowing of the weather screen, at the touch of a button.
In some embodiments, the rotatable shaft, coiling support members, and transparent flexible waterproof sheet may be housed in a casing comprising a slot through which the coiling support members and transparent flexible waterproof sheet are extendable when moving to the deployed configuration. Providing a casing is advantageous because it provides protection to the mechanism, preventing accidental interference with the rolled up screen, and preventing the ingress of water or other contaminants to the rotation mechanism.
In some such embodiments, the weather protection screen may further comprise two arms, attached at their proximal ends to the casing at respective opposite ends of the casing, and attached at their distal ends to the distal ends of respective coiling support members, each arm comprising respective first and second segments connected by respective pivot joints, such that, when the coiling support members and the transparent flexible waterproof sheet are in the stowed configuration, the first and second segments of each of the arms are pivoted together about their pivot joints, and when the coiling support members and the transparent flexible waterproof sheet are in the deployed configuration, the first and second segments of each of the arms are pivoted apart about their pivot joints. The arms support the deployment of the transparent flexible waterproof sheet by forcing it to define an arc about the pivot joints. This ensures that it does not pass through space within said arc, which may be occupied by a user.
In some embodiments including a casing, fastening means may be provided for mounting the weather protection screen. This means that the weather protection screen can be retrofitted to any device which may benefit from it, such as a conventional stroller or mobility scooter. The fixing means may be any conventional means, such as straps, hooks, and/or permanent magnets.
In some embodiments, the transparent flexible waterproof sheet may be made from plastics. This is common in the art of such sheets, and allows for inexpensive manufacture and resilient flexibility.
In some embodiments, the coiling support members may comprise drag chains. Drag chains are ideally suited to coiling when stowed, and providing stable extension with a qualitatively opposite curvature when deployed, for reasons that will be explained below.
In some embodiments, the coiling support members may comprise flat coiled springs.
A second aspect of the invention provides a stroller or pram for an infant characterised in that it comprises a weather protection screen according to the first aspect. Although some embodiments of the weather protection screen are retrofittable to many vehicles or other objects, it is also contemplated that the weather protection screen of the invention can be formed as an integral part of a vehicle or other object, including in particular strollers or prams for infants. This will add to the convenience of users.
A third aspect of the invention provides a mobility scooter characterised in that it comprises a weather protection screen according to the first aspect.
The invention will be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings:
The invention comprises a deployable rain cover comprising a flexible sheet supported between two coiling support members. In some embodiments, the coiling support members may be flat coiled springs. In other embodiments, the coiling support members may be drag chains.
An embodiment using flat coiled springs will be described first. As depicted in
Two substantially identical flat coiled springs 100 are both at their centre ends 110 secured to a rotatable shaft 200. When the two flat coil springs 100 are extended and have a force 125 applied, they both produce substantially the same arch shapes. These arches can be used to support waterproof flexible sheet material mounted therebetween, for example clear plastic sheet 210. This arrangement can be used to provide a screen/shield/cover against adverse weather conditions such as rain and wind.
An embodiment using a drag chain will now be described.
With reference to
This is achieved via the specific shape of the drag chain links 610. As best seen in
The drag chain described above can be used instead of the flat coil spring described earlier, or in combination therewith. When used together the curvature of the canopy is supported and defined by the properties of both the flat coil spring and the drag chain, which may be adjacent, overlapping, or separated by a gap. In a preferred arrangement comprising a hollow drag chain such as the one depicted in
Rotatable shaft 200 can be a simple, pole-like structure, but would preferably be in the form of a roller-blind roller, to which the coiling support members 100 are attached. The roller 200 could be a simple pull/push-type roller mechanism, or it could be mechanically operated, using known spring mechanisms, or it could be driven by a battery-powered electrical motor (not shown).
To protect the assembly itself from external damage, the assembly can be housed in a casing 300 as shown in
Associated with casing 300 can be two hinged arms 310. Each hinged arm 310 splits into two sections 311, 312 connected by a pivot point 313. Sections 311 at one end are attached to the bottom and opposing sides of casing 300, extending away and substantially downward from the casing. At the end of section 311 distal to the casing 300 is located pivot 313 connecting section 311 to section 312.
The weather protection screen may also comprise fasteners 440 (for example zip fasteners) attached to and along the outer side edges of plastic sheet 210 and coiling support members 100, to which additional plastic screens 450 can be attached to provide protection from the elements from the side.
Although the embodiment described is for use with a baby stroller, the invention is not limited to this use. The weather protection screen could be used with a number of different devices that could benefit from protection from rain and storms known to the person skilled in the art. For example, the weather protection screen could be used on a mobility scooter as depicted in
The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. The description is intended to enable a skilled person to make the invention, not to limit the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005642.0 | Apr 2020 | GB | national |
| 2100869.3 | Jan 2021 | GB | national |
