GB2219054A - Braking device for pushable vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

The device comprises a rotatable handle or twist grip 11 which is connected directly through a connector to a brake which is engagable with at least one wheel of the vehicle (such as a baby's pushchair or the like), the device being such that the brake is biassed into the engaged position and can be released by operation of the twist grip 11. By this means control of the vehicle on downward slopes is provided and runaway of the vehicle is prevented if the twist grip is released. <IMAGE>

Description

raking Device For Pushable ehicles The present invention relates to braking devices which can be used for pushable vehicles such as prams, pushchairs, or the like.

Several braking devices for pushable vehicles are known which are separate from the normal parking brake of the vehicle and which comprise means for engaging the spokes of a wheel to park the vehicle, or brake rods on an axle which are movable longitudinally to engage wheel rims.

However a problem with such known devices is that they cannot be used in emergencies (for example, if the vehicle were to run out of control down an incline) and can only be used for parking purposes. Furthermore, previous supplementary braking devices have, because of their complexity, had to be incorporated in the vehicle during manufacture.

The present invention aims to provide a braking device for a pushable vehicle which overcomes some of the aforementioned problems.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a braking device for a pedestrian-operated trolley-type vehicle, which device comprises: a twist-action cross-bar handle which is rotatable about its own axis; a brake which is movable between a first position in which it brake is engaged with at least one wheel of the vehicle, and a second position in which it is disengaged from said wheel; connecting means connecting said handle to said brake such that rotation of said handle about said axis in one direction causes movement of said brake from said first position to said second position; and means for biassing said brake towards said first position when said handle is free to rotate about said axis in a second direction.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an over-centre arrangement is connected to the brake whereby the brake is movable over-centre between its operative and inoperative positions.

Preferably the connecting means comprises a wire or wires attached to the brake at one end and at the other end to the twist-action handle which fits around a cross-bar forming part of the frame of the vehicle, whereby selective rotation of the handle can engage or disengage the brake.

The connecting means may be connected through tubular struts comprising the frame of the vehicle; alternatively, they may be exposed.

Although the braking device according to the invention is particularly applicable to prams, pushchairs or buggies, either when being manufactured or as an additional item, it is also applicable to other vehicles such as hospital beds, trolleys or wheelchairs where either controlled or emergency braking is required. The present invention is even applicable to trailers intended to be towed by vehicles, for transporting items such as boats, camping equipment or the like; such trailers when manually manoeuvred prior to and after being hitched to a vehicle, are considered to be pushable vehicles within the scope of the present invention.

Several embodiments of a braking device according to the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a rear view of a child's buggy incorporating a braking device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic detail side view of the braking device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view of the device of Figure 1 and 2 but separate from the buggy; Figure 4 is a detail view illustrating an alternative means of attachment of the device to the buggy; Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to Figures 1 and 2 showing the device attached to a different type of buggy; Figures 7 and 8 are schematic views of different forms of the braking device; Figure 9 is a rear view of a trolley incorporating another form of the braking device; Figure 10 is a detail side view illustrating the form of device of Figure 9;; Figure 11 is a detail sectional view of the braking device of Figures 9 and 10; Figure 12 is a rear view of a wheelchair incorporating a different form of braking device; Figure 13 is a view of the wheelchair of Figure 12 in its folded condition; Figures 14A, 14B are schematic detail views showing the handle of the wheelchair of Figure 12 in attached and released positions; and Figures 15A to 15C are schematic views of the handle of Figure 14 in various brake-operating positions.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 there is shown a child's buggy 1 of the fixed-rear-wheel type foldable from front to rear. Such a buggy has a frame comprising a cross-member 2 fixed to upright parallel struts 3, which are themselves attached to a rear crossbar 4 supporting rear wheels 5. When folded, as illustrated in Figure 1, the seat 6 and back 7 of the buggy are substantially parallel and the front wheels 9 are closely adjacent the rear wheels 5.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the braking device comprises a twist-action rotatable handle 11 fitting coaxially around a cross-member 2, the handle being attached to a brake rod or bar 12 through a connecting device which may comprise a set of parallel wires 13. As best illustrated in Figure 2, the brake rod 12 is movable by an over-centre mechanism 14 from a position in which it is engageable with the wheels 5 to a position in which the brake rod 12 is disengaged from the wheels 5. In normal use, the braking device is disengaged but when, for example, descending an incline, the over-centre mechanism 14 can be moved so that the pusher of the buggy can control intermittent braking thereof.

As an alternative to the arrangement illustrated, the connecting wires 13 may be arranged to pass through the tubular struts 3 comprising the frame of the buggy, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows an alternative attachment of the rotatable handle 11 to the cross-member 2 utilising screws 15 which connect an extension 16 of tfie twist-action handle 11 to the cross-member 2, the latter then functioning as the normal handle for pushing the buggy.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 8, the buggy is collapsed both from front to back and side and the braking device comprises a twist-action rotatable handle 11 which is attachable to a cross-member 2. The handle 11 is connected to the brake rod 12 through a single wire 13 which at its lower end is attached to an additional wire 18, both being attached to the brake rod 12.

Various forms of the braking device according to the invention are possible; some examples are illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 which show how the connecting means between the rotatable handle 11 and the brake rod 12 can be arranged.

In Figures 9 to 11 there is illustrated a trolley, which may, for example, be a bed or wheel-chair, showing a different embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the braking device uses braking wheels 20 which are attached to the braking device.

In normal operation, the wheels 20 are clear of the ground, but they are connected to a push bar 21 which is movable vertically to lower the braking wheels to the ground and lift the normal trolley wheels 5 off the ground so that a controlled braking effect can be administered to the lowered wheels 20.

The braking effect can be controlled as previously described in relation to Figures 1 to 9, but in this embodiment the rotatable handle 11 is preferably connected through wires 13 passing through struts 21 to the braking rod 12.

Figures 12 to 15 illustrate a foldable wheelchair having a braking device that is not over-centre operated. The wheelchair has a twist-action rotatable handle 22 to which are connected wires 23 attached respectively to brake bars 24, one associated with each wheel 25. Each brake bar is attached to an upright 26 of the wheelchair frame 27 and is slidable along the upright into and out of engagement with its wheel 25.

Alternatively, the bar may be pivotally mounted so that it can move into and out of engagement with the wheel or wheels.

Attached to the lower end of each bar 24 is a spring 28 arranged to urge the respective bar into engagement with the wheel.

Rotation of the handle 22 can move the brake bars 24 between the illustrated operative condition and a brake-released condition.

As best seen in Figures 15A to 15C, the rotatable handle 22 has a Z-shaped slot 29 which receives a spigot 30.

In the position illustrated in Figure 15A, the handle can rotate to apply and release the brake bars 24. However, the handle 22 can be moved relative to the spigot 30 to the position of Figure 15B in which the brake bars 24 are held in their released condition or to the position of Figure 15C in which the brake bars 24 engage the wheels 2.

Figures 13 and 14 illustrate how the handle 22 is at one end pivotally attached to the wheelchair frame and at the other end is detachably connected to the frame by a releasable wing nut 32. Removal of the wing nut 32 permits pivotting of the handle (Figure 14B) to allow the wheelchair to be folded, as shown in Figure 13.

Of course, other means of detachably connecting the twist-action rotatable handle to the frame could be used.

The device in accordance with the invention can be incorporated in the originel manufacture of the vehicle or can be attached subsequently.

The device has the advantage that the operator has full control of the vehicle, especially downhill. Also if the operator accidentally or through Eny cause disengages the handle 11, the brake will engage the wheels and prevent the vehicle running away.

Claims (7)

1. A braking device for a pedestrian-operated trolley-type vehicle, which device comprises: a twist-action cross-bar handle which is rotatable about its own axis; a brake which is movable between a first position in which it brake is engaged with at least one wheel of the vehicle, and a second position in which it is disengaged from said wheel; connecting means connecting said handle to said brake such that rotation of said handle about said axis in one direction causes movement of said brake from said first position to said second position; end means for biassing said brake towards said first position when said handle is free to rotate about said axis in a second direction.

2. A braking device according to claim 1, which comprises an over-centre mechanism connected to the brake such that the latter is movable over-centre between said operative and inoperative positions.

3. A braking device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said connecting means comprises at least one wire attached to the brake at one end and at the other end to said handle.

4. A braking device according to claim 3, wherein said wire is connected through tubular struts comprising the frame of said vehicle.

5. A braking device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said pushable vehicle is a baby carriage.

6. A braking device for a pushable vehicle, substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 8, Figures 9 to 11, or Figures 12 to 15.

7. A pedestrian-operated trolley-type vehicle provided with a braking device according to any of claims 1 to 4.