GB2334489A

GB2334489A - Foldable stroller with a locking member

Info

Publication number: GB2334489A
Application number: GB9803867A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Red Lan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-02-24
Filing date: 1998-02-24
Publication date: 1999-08-25
Anticipated expiration: 2018-02-24
Also published as: GB9803867D0; GB2334489B; AU690514B3

Abstract

A foldable stroller (2) includes a pair of front leg members (31), a pair of handle members (33) and a pair of rear leg members (36). Each of the rear leg members (36) has a positioning device (4) that has upper and lower bridge members (41, 42), a pair of intersecting bars (43) and a locking member (51). Each of the upper and lower bridge members (41, 42) extends between the rear leg members (36), and has two pivotally interconnected foldable sections (411, 421) that are pivoted respectively to the rear leg members (36). The intersecting bars (43) have lower ends pivoted respectively to the foldable sections (421), and upper ends pivoted respectively to the foldable sections (411). The locking member (51) has an upper portion connected to the upper bridge member (41), and a lower portion extending downward to connect releaseably with one of the intersecting bars (43) so as to lock relative turning movement of the upper bridge member (41) and one of the intersecting bars (43), thereby preventing the upper and lower bridge members (41, 42) from moving to their folding positions.

Description

FOLDABLE STROLLER This invention relates to a foldable stroller, more particularly to a foldable stroller having a simplified positioning device for maintaining a pair of rear leg members in an unfolded position.

Referring to Figure 1, a conventional foldable stroller 1 is shown to include a foldable frame 11 having a pair of front leg members 111, a pair of handle members 112, a pair of rear leg members 114, a pair of seat frames 117 and a pair of backrest frames 118.

The handle members 112 are connected pivotally to the upper ends of the front leg members 111 by means of pivot seats 10 such that the handle members 112 can be pivoted forwardly and downwardly. The upper ends of the rear leg members 114 are connected pivotally to the handle members 112 by means of pivot seats 113.

The lower ends of the front and rear leg members 111, 114 carry a respective caster 115. Two cross rods 116 are connected pivotally adjacent to the lower ends of the front and rear leg members 111, 114 by means of pivot seats 119. Each of the seat frames 117 is connected pivotally to the front and rear leg members 111, 114 at either side of the conventional foldable stroller 1. Each of the backrest frames 118 is connected pivotally to the respective one of the seat frames 117. Upholstery may be mounted to the seat frames 117 and the backrest frames 118 in order to support a user thereon.

Referring to Figure 2, to maintain the foldable frame 11 in an unfolded position, a positioning device 12 is mounted to the rear leg members 114. The positioning device 12 includes upper and lower bridge members 121 which extend between the rear leg members 114, and a pair of foldably pivoted intersecting bars 122 which are mounted to the upper and lower bridge members 121. Each of the upper and lower bridge members 121 has two pivotally interconnected foldable sections that are pivoted respectively to the rear leg members 114 by pivot pins 123 to turn upward relative to the rear leg members 114 so as to move to a folding position of the foldable sections. An inverted Ushaped restricting member 126 is mounted to the pivot point 124 of the foldable sections of the lower bridge member 121 in order to prevent the lower bridge member 121 from turning downward relative to the rear leg members 114 after the foldable sections of the lower bridge member 121 are stretched straight. A manipulating knob 125 protrudes rearward from the pivot point 124 of the lower bridge member 121 to facilitate upward pivoting movement of the lower bridge member 121.

The positioning device 12 further includes a safety device 13 having a brace member 131 and a spring member 132. The brace member 131 has left and right sections 133, and a middle section 134 which interconnects pivotally the left and right sections 133 and which prevents the same from turning downwardly with respect to the rear leg members 114. The distal ends of the left and right sections 133 are connected pivotally and respectively to the rear leg members 114 by means of pivot pins 135. The right section 133 has a press portion 136 extending outwardly from the distal end thereof. The spring member 132 interconnects the left section 133 and one of the rear leg members 114 in order to prevent accidental upward pivoting movement of the brace member 131.

In the unfolded position of the conventional foldable stroller 1, each of the pivot points 120, 124 of the upper and lower bridge members 121 is lower than the respective pivot pin 123. The spring member 132 prevents the left section 133 from turning upwardly, thereby preventing unintentional folding of the rear leg members 114. When it is desired to fold the rear leg members 114, the manipulating knob 125 is moved upwardly to permit the upward pivoting movement of the lower bridge member 121. Next, the user must actuate the press portion 136 against the spring force of the spring member 132 so as to turn the brace member 131 upwardly relative to the rear leg members 114.

Furthermore, the handle members 112 may be turned forwardly about the pivot seats 113 toward the front leg members 111 in a manner which is well known in the art and which will not be detailed herein.

Although the safety device 13 can provide enhanced safety features for the conventional foldable stroller 1, the drilling of three holes in the rear leg members 114 is required to mount the brace member 131 and the spring member 132 to the rear leg members 114. In addition, a plurality of pivot pins are required to interconnect the left and right sections 133 of the brace member 131 and the rear leg members 114.

Therefore, the structure of the positioning device 12 is relatively complicated, thereby resulting in troublesome assembly of the positioning device 12 and the rear leg members 114.

The object of the present invention is to provide a foldable stroller having a positioning device with a simplified structure.

According to the present invention, the foldable stroller comprises a pair of front leg members, a pair of handle members and a pair of rear leg members. Each of the handle members has a lower end connected pivotally to the upper end of a respective one of the front leg members, and an intermediate section interconnecting the upper and lower ends thereof. A foldable brace connects transversely the handle members adjacent to the upper ends of the handle members. Each of the rear leg members has an upper end connected pivotally to the intermediate section of a respective one of the handle members, a lower end, and a positioning device for maintaining the rear leg members in an unfolded position.

The positioning device includes upper and lower bridge members, a restricting member, a pair of foldably pivoted intersecting bars and a locking member.

Each of the upper and lower bridge members extends between the rear leg members,, and has two pivotally interconnected foldable sections that are pivoted respectively to the rear leg members to turn upward relative to the rear leg members so as to move to a folding position of the foldable sections.

The restricting member is mounted to the lower bridge member to prevent the lower bridge member from turning downward relative to the rear leg members after the foldable sections of the lower bridge member are stretched straight.

The intersecting 'bars have lower ends pivoted respectively to the foldable sections of the lower bridge member, and upper ends pivoted respectively to the foldable sections of the upper bridge member.

The locking member has an upper portion connected to the upper bridge member and a lower portion extending downward to connect releaseably with one of the intersecting bars so as to lock relative turning movement of the upper bridge member and one of the intersecting bars, thereby preventing the upper and lower bridge members from moving to the folding positions of the upper and lower bridge members.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional foldable stroller; Figure 2 is a plan view illustrating the rear side of the conventional foldable stroller; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a foldable stroller according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a rear view of the preferred embodiment of a foldable stroller according to the present invention; Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view of a positioning device of the foldable stroller according to the present invention; Figure 6 is a perspective schematic view illustrating how the rear leg members of the foldable stroller are folded; and Figure 7 is a rear schematic view illustrating how the rear leg members of the foldable stroller are folded.

Referring toFigure 3, the preferred embodiment of a foldable stroller 2 according to the present invention is shown to comprise a foldable frame 3 having a pair of front leg members 31, a pair of handle members 33, a pair of rear leg members 36, a pair of seat frames 38 and a pair of backrest frames 39. The handle members 33 are connected pivotally to the upper ends of the front leg members 31 by means of two first pivot seats 32 such that the handle members 33 can be pivoted forwardly and downwardly. A foldable brace 34 connects transversely the handle members 33 adjacent to the upper ends of the same. The foldable brace 34 has left and right sections 341 and a connecting piece 342 interconnecting pivotally the left and right sections 341. The upper ends of the rear leg members 36 are connected pivotally and respectively to the intermediate section of the handle members 33 by means of two second pivot seats 35. The lower ends of the front and rear leg members 31, 36 carry a respective caster 311, 361. Two cross rods 30 are connected pivotally adjacent to the lower ends of the front and rear leg members 31, 36 by means of four third pivot seats 37. Each of the seat frames 38 is connected pivotally to the front and rear leg members 31, 36 at either side of the foldable stroller 2. Each of the backrest frames 39 is connected pivotally to the respective one of the seat frames 38.

Upholstery may be mounted to the seat frames 38 and the backrest frames 39.

Referring to Figure 4, to maintain the foldable frame 3 in an unfolded position, a positioning device 4 is mounted to the rear leg members 36. The positioning device 4 includes upper and lower bridge members 41, 42 which extend between the rear leg members 36, and a pair of foldablypivoted intersecting bars 43 which are mounted to the upper and lower bridge members 41, 42. Each of the upper and lower bridge members 41, 42 has pivotally interconnected left and right foldable sections 411, 421 that are pivoted respectively to the rear leg members 36 by respective pivot pins 414, 422 and that are connected pivotally to one another by means of a respective pivot pin 53, 424 to turn upward relative to the rear leg members 36 so as to move to a folding position of the foldable sections 411, 421. An inverted U-shaped restricting member 420 is mounted to the pivot pin 424 of the foldable sections 421 of the lower bridge member 42 in order to prevent the lower bridge member 42 from turning downward relative to the rear leg members 36 after the fo'ldable sections 421 of the lower bridge member 42 are stretched straight. The intersecting bars 43 have lower ends pivoted respectively to the foldable sections 421 of the lower bridge member 42, and upper ends pivoted respectively to the foldable sections 411 of the upper bridge member 41.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the positioning device 4 further includes a safety device 5 for enhancing the safety features of the foldable stroller 2. The safety device- 5 includes a locking member 51 and a locking pin 52. The locking member 51 is a plate member which has an upper portion connected to the upper bridge member 41 and a lower portion extending downward to connect releaseably with one of the intersecting bars 43 so as to lock relative turning movement of the upper bridge member 41 and one of the intersecting bars 43, thereby preventing the upper and lower bridge members 41, 42 frommovingto the folding positions of the upper and lower bridge members 41, 42. More specifically, the upper portion of the locking member 51 is connected to and suspended from the upper bridge member 41 by means of the pivot pin 53 in such a manner that the locking member 51 can move resiliently forward and backward. A fixing pin 54 extends through the upper portion of the locking member 51 and one of the foldable sections 411 of the upper bridge member 41 in order to affix the upper bridge member 41 to one of the foldable sections 411. The locking member 51 has an elongated slot 511 formed inclinedly in the lower portion thereof. The locking pin 52 projects rearward from one of the intersecting bars 43 to extend into the slot 511 of the locking member 51. The lower portion of the locking member 51 has a manipulatable extension 512 which is bent rearward and which provides an inclined guide face 513 to guide the locking pin 52 to move into the slot 511.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the foldable stroller 2 is in an unfolded position in which the upper and lower bridge members 41, 42 are stretched straight to separate the rear leg members 36 from one another by a predetermined distance. At this time, the locking pin 52 is inserted into the slot 511 and abuts against the upper end of the same. The safety device 5 can prevent unintentional folding of the rear leg members 36 of the foldable stroller 2.

Referring to Figures 4 and 6, the pivot pin 424 is pulled upwardly to permit upward pivoting movement of the folding sections 421, 411 of the lower and upper bridge members 42, 41 by virtue of folding of the intersecting bars 43. When the folding sections 411 are pivoted upwardly, the locking pin 52 slides in the slot 511 in the locking member 51 until the former abuts against the lower end of the slot 511, thereby preventing further upward pivoting movement of the folding sections 411. Therefore, the upper and lower bridge members 41, 42 cannot be totally folded at this time.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, to move the upper and lower bridge members 41, 42 to a totally folded position, the user pulls the locking member 51 at the manipulatable extension 512 in order to disengage the locking pin 52 from the slot 511. The handle members 33 are then pivoted forwardly and downwardly toward the front leg members 31 about the pivot seats 32. The connecting piece 342 is pulled upwardly so as to fold the handle members 33. In this way, the foldable stroller 2 can be folded totally.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, when it is to be fold the foldable stroller 2, the handle members 33 are pivoted upwardly and rearward, and the pivot pin 424 is pressed downward to stretch the upper and lower bridge members 41, 42 between the rear leg members 36.

The locking pin 52 pushes the guide face 513 of the locking member 51 rearward and slides into the slot 511 as the foldable sections 411 of the upper bridge member 41 are pivoted downward. The rear leg members 36 are thus unfolded with an enhanced safety feature.

It is noted that the structure of the safety device 5 is simpler than that of the conventional safety device 13 described beforehand. In addition, the locking member 51 and the locking pin 52 can be assembled easily to the positioning device 4. The object of the present invention is thus met.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A foldable stroller, comprising: a pair of front leg members, each having an upper end and a lower end; a pair of handle members, each having an upper end, a lower end connected pivotally to said upper end of a respective one of said front leg members, and an intermediate section interconnecting said upper and lower ends thereof; and a pair of rear leg members, each having an upper end connected pivotally to said intermediate section of a respective one of said handle members, a lower end, and a positioning device for maintaining said rear leg members in an unfolded position, said positioning device including: upper and lower bridge members, each of which extends between said rear leg members and each of which has two pivotally interconnected foldable sections that are pivoted respectively to said rear leg members to turn upward relative to said rear leg members so as to move to a folding position of said foldable sections; a restricting member mounted to said lower bridge member to prevent said lower bridge member from turning downward relative to said rear leg members after said foldable sections of said lower bridge member are stretched straight; a pair of foldably pivoted intersecting bars which have lower ends pivoted respectively to said foldable sections of said lower bridge member and upper ends pivoted respectively to said foldable sect ions of said upper bridge member; and a locking member having an upper portion connected to said upper bridge member and a lower portion extending downward to connect releaseably with one of said intersecting bars so as to lock relative turning movement of said upper bridge member and said one of said intersecting bars, thereby preventing said upper and lower bridge members from moving to the folding positions of said upper and lower bridge members.
2. The foldable stroller as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said locking member is connected to and is suspended from said upper bridge member to resiliently move forward and backward and has a slot formed in said lower portion thereof, said one of said intersecting bars having a locking pin which projects rearward therefrom to extend into said slot of said locking member.
3. The foldable stroller as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said upper portion of said locking member is fixed to said upper bridge member, said lower portion of said locking member having a manipulatable extension which is bent rearward and which provides an inclined guide face to guide said locking pin to move into said slot.
4. A foldable stroller substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 3 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.