GB2431624A

GB2431624A - Brake assembly for a foldable stroller

Info

Publication number: GB2431624A
Application number: GB0617107A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Murray Forbes Hutchinson; Adam Bearup
Original assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co Ltd Taiwan
Current assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co Ltd Taiwan
Priority date: 2005-10-28
Filing date: 2005-10-28
Publication date: 2007-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 2025-10-28
Also published as: GB2431622A; GB2431622B; GB0522003D0; GB2431624B; GB0617107D0

Abstract

The present invention provides a foldable stroller (10 figure 1) comprising a stroller frame having opposite first and second side frame sections (12,12'), each of which is provided with a rear wheel (22); and a first brake assembly 90 attached to the fist side frame section at a location adjacent to the rear wheel of the first side frame section, the first brake assembly including a first braking housing 91 disposed on the rear wheel of the first side frame section; a first pin 96 held within the first braking housing and movable between a first pin braking position and a first pin release position, and a button 92 disposed movably within the first braking housing and movable between a first position, where the first pin is disposed in the first pin braking position so as to prevent rotation of the rear wheel of the first side frame section, and a second position, where the first pin is disposed in the first pin release position so as to allow for rotation of the rear wheel of the first side frame section.

Description

2431624

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THIS IS A DIVISIONAL APPLICATION OF GB 0522003.3

FOLDABLE STROLLER

This invention relates to a foldable stroller, and more particularly to a foldable stroller that can be folded with ease and that includes a single action brake mechanism.

5 Prior art foldable strollers typically utilize an over-center fold bar link for the folding action which brings the two side frame sections together. For releasing such a structure to initiate the folding sequence, this requires pulling up the center of the fold bar link with 10 the top of the foot or reaching down and pulling up the fold bar link with the hand.

For strollers that fold the side frame sections toward each other, it is also necessary to fold the footrest positioned between the side frame sections across the front 15 of the stroller. Prior art strollers have enabled the folding of the footrest by simply using thin flexible sheet material for the footrest so that the thin sheet collapses as the two side frame sections come together. However, this type of footrest does not furnish satisfactory support or 20 at least does not provide the sense of substantial support.

Another aspect of strollers currently available that needs improvements is the brake system. Typically, in order to apply braking to both sides of the stroller, it requires a metal linkage across the rear near the bottom 25 of the stroller, or two hand operated levers. The metal resembles a bar between the rear wheels, and interferes substantially with storage space under the stroller and

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the foot room of the person walking behind the stroller, while the twin lever design adds complexity and requires considerable hand strength to operate.

It would be very beneficial to have a stroller in which 5 side to side folding can be initiated by a simple hand action that does not require reaching down to the wheel level, in which the footrest is rigid but automatically folds, and in which the brakes on both rear wheels can be operated by simple single action.

10 Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide a foldable stroller that can overcome the abovementioned drawbacks associated with the prior art strollers.

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a foldable stroller comprising: 15 a stroller frame having opposite first and second side frame sections, each of which is provided with a rear wheel; and a first brake assembly attached to the first side frame sections at a location adjacent to the rear wheel of the 20 first side frame section, the first brake assembly including a first braking housing disposed on the first wheel, a first pin held within the first braking housing and movable between a first pin braking position and a first pin release position, and 25 a button disposed movably within the first braking housing andmovable between an upper limit position, where the first pin is disposed in the first pin braking

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position so as to prevent rotation of the rear wheel of the first side frame section, and a lower limit position, where the first pin is disposed in the first pin release position so as to allow for rotation of the rear wheel of 5 the first side frame section.

The foldable stroller may include:

a stroller frame having opposite first and second side frame sections, each of which includes at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel;

10 a fold bar including first and second bar sections that are interconnected pivotally at a common bar pivot point and that are connected respectively and pivotally to the first and second side frame sections of the stroller frame; and

15 a latch assembly attached to the fold bar and adjacent to the common bar pivot point, the latch assembly including a latch member attached to the first bar section and having an engagement portion,

a latch release member attached to the second bar 20 section and having an engagement portion that engages the engagement portion of the latch member so as to prevent the first and second bar sections from moving relative to each other, the engagement portions of the latch lease member and the latch member being removable from each other 25 so as to allow for relative pivoting movement between the first and second bar sections, and a motive device for pivoting the first and second bar

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sections relative to each other so as to allow for further pivoting movement of the first and second bar sections relative to each other when the engagement portions of the latch lease member and the latch member are removed from 5 each other.

Alternatively the foldable stroller may include: a stroller frame including two front legs interconnected so as to allow for movement of the front legs toward and away from each other, 10 two front wheels mounted respectively on lower ends of the front legs,

two rear legs interconnected so as to allow for movement of the rear legs toward and away from each other, the rear legs being connected respectively and pivotally to the front 15 legs such that each of the rear legs can rotate relative to a corresponding one of the front legs in a plane, on which the corresponding one of the front legs is disposed, two rear wheels,

two rear wheel links connected respectively to the 20 rear wheels, each of the rear wheel links having a lower end connected fixedly to a corresponding one of the rear wheels, and an upper end connected pivotally to a respective one of the rear legs, and two pivoting supports, each of which has a front end 25 connected pivotally to a respective one of the front legs,

and a rear end connected pivotally to a respective one of

the rear wheel links; and a latch assembly disposed on the stroller frame so as to prevent movement of the rear legs relative to each other, the latch assembly being operable so as to allow for movement of the rear legs relative to each other.

These and other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a foldable stroller according to this invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a rear lower portion of a stroller frame of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating a one-hand release fold bar and a single action brake control button;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of a rear X-support and the fold bar of the first preferred embodiment, in which a pivotable housing is removed for better illustration of engagement between a latch member and a latch release member;

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the fold bar of the first preferred embodiment, in which the pivotable housing is removed to illustrate how the latch member is released from the latch release member;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating how the pivotable housing is pivoted to uncover both the latch member and

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the latch release member;

Fig. 6 is schematic rear view of a foldable footrest of the first preferred embodiment;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a first brake assembly 5 of the first preferred embodiment;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the first brake assembly of the first preferred embodiment;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a first braking housing of the first brake assembly of the first 10 preferred embodiment;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary schematic view of the first brake assembly of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating how a plurality of upper guide protrusions of the button are disposed respectively within a plurality 15 of deep slots in the first braking housing;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary schematic view of the first brake assembly of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating positions of upper triangular teeth of the button and lower teeth of a rotating gear within the first 20 braking housing when the button is disposed in the upper limit position;

Fig. 12 is a schematic imaginary unfolded view of the first braking housing of the first preferred embodiment when the button is disposed in the upper limit position; 25 Fig. 13 is a schematic imaginary unfolded view of the first braking housing of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating the positions of the lower teeth after the

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lower teeth separate from the deep slots in the first braking housing and before the button reaches a lower limit position;

Fig. 14 is a schematic imaginary unfolded view of the 5 first braking housing of the first preferred embodiment,

illustrating how the button is maintained in the lower limit position;

Fig. 15 is a schematic view of a second brake assembly of the first preferred embodiment;

10 Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a foldable cup holder of the first preferred embodiment;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary perspective view of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating a pivotal connection between two canopy frames;

15 Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of a foldable stroller according to this invention when it is completely open and in an operating condition;

Fig. 19 is a side view of the second preferred embodiment 20 when it is partially folded;

Fig. 20 is a side view of the second preferred embodiment when it is completely folded and collapsed into its minimum size;

Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view of a canopy mounting 25 connector of the second preferred embodiment;

Fig. 22 is a sectional view taken along Line 22-22 in Fig. 21; and

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Fig. 23 is a sectional view taken along Line 23-23 in Fig. 21.

Before the present invention is described in greater detail in connection with the preferred embodiments, it 5 should be noted that similar elements and structures are designated by like reference numerals throughout the entire disclosure.

Referring to Fig. 1, the first preferred embodiment of a foldable stroller according to this invention includes 10 a stroller frame 10, a one-hand release fold bar 70, and a latch assembly 80. The stroller frame 10 has opposite first and second side frame sections 12, 12' , each of which includes two front wheels 16 and a rear wheel 22.

With further reference to Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the fold 15 bar 70 includes first and second bar sections 71, 72 that are interconnected pivotally at a common bar pivot point 15 and that are connected respectively and pivotally to the first and second side frame sections 12, 12' . The latch assembly 80 is attached to the fold bar 70, and is adjacent 20 to the common bar pivot point 15. The latch assembly 80

includes a latch release member 81 and a latch member 82. The latch release member 81 is connected rotatably to the second bar section 72 by a pivot 23, and has an engagement portion 83 in the form of a notch. The latch member 82 is 25 formed integrally with the first bar section 71, and also has an engagement portion or distal end 84. When the stroller frame 10 is unfolded, the engagement portions 83,

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84 of the latch release member 81 and the latch member 82 engage each other, as shown in Fig. 3. This prevents relative pivoting movement between the first and second bar sections 71, 72 and, thus, the folding of the stroller 5 frame 10.

A release unit includes a control handle 21 (see Fig. 1) and a flexible wire 19. The control handle 21 is mounted on a right handle tube 4 6, and serves as a remote activation device. The wire 19 has two ends fastened respectively to 10 the control handle 21 and the latch release member 81. The control handle 21 can be operated to rotate the latch release member 81 in a counterclockwise direction (A) (see Fig. 4) to separate the engagement portions 83, 84 of the latch release member 81 and the latch member 82. Hence, relative 15 pivoting movement between the first and second bar sections

71, 72 is allowed.

A motive device is formed integrally with the latch release member 81, and is configured as a rotating cam 25. During counterclockwise rotation of the latch release 20 member 81 due to operation of the control handle 21, the rotating cam 25 contacts and pushes the latch member 82 upwardly so as to pivot the first and second bar sections 71, 72 relative to each other, thereby moving the common bar pivot point 15 upwardly. This facilitates movement of 25 the first and second side frame sections 12, 12' toward each other when the stroller frame 10 is folded.

With additional reference to Fig. 5, a pivotable housing

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73 is disposed pivotally on the second side frame section 12' , and has two sidewalls 74 and a top wall 75 interconnecting upper ends of the sidewalls 74. The top wall 75 is formed with a knurled surface 75' (see Fig. 2) .

5 The second bar section 72 and an end of the first bar section

71 are disposed between the sidewalls 74, and abut against a bottom surface of the top wall 75. As such, when the fold bar 70 is folded, it is not necessary to remove the pivotable housing 73 from a juncture between the first and 10 second bar sections 71, 72, as shown in Fig. 5. When it is desired to unfold the fold bar 70, the knurled surface 75' is stepped on to align the first and second bar sections 71, 72 with each other.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 6, a foldable footrest 77 is 15 disposed between front ends of the first and second side frame sections 12, 12', and is supported by a hinge unit 76. The hinge unit 76 is configured as a continuous length of flexible material, and has two ends fastened respectively to the first and second side frame sections 12, 12' by 20 retainers 78. The foldable footrest 77 is attached fixedly to the hinge unit 76, and includes first and second footrest sections 79, 79' constructed with top surfaces of rigid materials so as to impart sufficient support to the feet of the baby sitting on the stroller. The hinge unit 76 has 25 a central portion (76C) disposed between the first and second footrest sections 79, 79' and serving as a central hinge, a first end portion (76S) disposed between the first

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footrest section 79 and the left retainer 78 and serving as a first side hinge, and a second portion (76S' ) disposed between the second footrest section 79' and the right retainer 78 and serving as a second side hinge.

5 Referring to Figs. 1, 7, and 8, a first brake assembly

90 is attached to the first side frame section 12 at a location adjacent to the rear wheel 22 of the first side frame section 12, and includes a first braking housing 91, a single action brake control button 92, a rotating gear 10 93, a first wedge 94, a first spring 95 in the form of a coiled compression spring, a first pin 96, and a small spring 97 also in the form of a coiled compression spring.

With additional reference to Fig. 9, the first braking housing 91 is disposed on the rear wheel 22 of the first 15 side frame section 12, and has a cylindrical inner surface

120 formed with an inward flange 121 extending radially and inwardly therefrom, and a plurality of equidistant vertical ribs 122 extending downwardly from the inward flange 121. Each adjacent pair of the vertical ribs 122 20 defines a vertical deep slot 123. Each vertical rib 122

has a U-shaped cross section, and defines a vertical shallow slot 124. Each vertical ribs 122 is formed with a zigzag lower end surface 125 that has a leading oblique surface portion 126, a trailing oblique surface portion 126", and 25 a vertical surface portion 126' interconnecting the leading and trailing oblique surface portions 126, 126".

The first pin 96 is held within the first braking housing

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91, and is guided to move between a first pin braking position and a first pin release position along a direction (B) . The small spring 97 biases the first pin 96 to the first pin braking position. In the first pin braking 5 position, the first pin 96 engages a hole or groove (not shown) in the rear wheel 22 of the first side frame section 12 to prevent rotation of the rear wheel 22 of the first side frame section 12. In the first pin release position, the first pin 96 is removed from the hole or groove in the 10 rear wheel 22 of the first side frame section 12 so as to allow for rotation of the rear wheel 22 of the first side frame section 12.

The button 92 is disposed movably within the first braking housing 91, and is movable vertically within the 15 first braking housing 91 between an upper limit position and a lower limit position. In this embodiment, the button 92 is cylindrical, and has a serrated annular lower end formed with a plurality of upper triangular teeth 127, and an annular outer surface formed with a plurality of upper 20 guide protrusions 128 projecting respectively and integrally from outer surfaces of the upper triangular teeth 127. The upper guide protrusions 128 are received respectively and slidably within the deep slots 123 in the first braking housing 91, as shown in Fig. 10. 25 Alternatively, the number of the upper guide protrusions 128 may be increased, and the upper guide protrusions 128 are disposed respectively within the deep and shallow slots

123, 124 in the first braking housing 91. Each of the upper triangular teeth 127 has two inclined side surfaces 129 (see Fig. 12) defining a lower end tip.

The rotating gear 93 is disposed within the first braking 5 housing 91 immediately under the button 92, and includes a hollow cylindrical body 130. The cylindrical body 130 has a top wall and an annular outer surface that is formed with an outward flange 131 and a plurality of spaced-apart lower teeth 132, which are disposed immediately above the 10 outward flange 131. Each of the lower teeth 132 is formed with a vertical side surface 133 (see Fig. 13) and an inclined side surface 134 (see Fig. 13) defining an upper end tip. When the button 92 is disposed in the upper limit position, the lower teeth 132 are located respectively and 15 slidably within the deep slots 123 in the first braking housing 91, as shown in Fig. 11.

The first wedge 94 is disposed within the first braking housing 91 immediately under the rotating gear 93, and has a horizontal middle plate 136, an upper insert portion 137 20 extending upwardly from a central portion of the middle plate portion 136, and a lower wedge portion 138 extending downwardly from the middle plate portion 136. The upper insert portion 137 is inserted into the hollow cylindrical body 130 of the rotating gear 93, and abuts against the 25 top wall 130' of the rotating gear 93 so as to allow for synchronous vertical movement of the rotating gear 93 and the first wedge 94. The first spring 95 biases the first

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wedge 94 to a first wedge top position so as to move the button 92 to the upper limit position. The lower wedge portion 138 has a first inclined surface 139 in slidable with a sliding member of the first pin 96, and a vertical 5 pin slot 140 formed through the lower wedge portion 138.

In this embodiment, the first pin 96 includes a pin body 141 extending through the pin slot 140 in the first wedge 94 and having opposite first and second ends 141', 141". When the first pin 96 is disposed in the first pin braking 10 position, the first end 141' of the pin body 141 engages the hole or groove in the rear wheel 22 of the first side frame section 12. The second end 141" of the pin body 141 is formed with two aligned ears 142 extending radially and outwardly therefrom away from each other and constituting 15 the sliding member. The aligned ears 142 are biased by the small spring 97 to press against the first inclined surface 139 of the first wedge 94.

When the button 92 is disposed in the upper limit position so that the first wedge 94 is disposed in the first 20 wedge top position, the ears 142 of the first pin 96 contact a lower end portion of the first inclined surface 139 of the first wedge 94. As such, the first pin 96 is biased by the small spring 97 to the first pin braking position.

Conversely, when the button 92 is disposed in the lower 25 limit position so that the first wedge 94 is disposed in a first wedge bottom position, the ears 142 of the first pin 96 contact an upper end portion of the first inclined

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surface 139 of the first wedge 94. As such, the first pin 96 is pushed by the first inclined surface 139 to the first pin release position.

Figs. 12, 13, and 14 are schematic imaginary unfolded 5 views of the first braking housing 91.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 12, when the button 92 is disposed in the upper limit position, the upper guide protrusions 128 and the lower teeth 132 are disposed within the deep slots 123 in the first braking housing 91, and 10 the inclined side surfaces 134 of the lower teeth 132 abut respectively against the corresponding inclined side surfaces 129 of the corresponding upper triangular teeth 127. As such, rotation of the button 92 within the first braking housing 91 is prevented.

15 Upon depression of the button 92, the upper triangular teeth 127 of the button 92 push the lower teeth 132 of the rotating gear 93 downwardly. During downward movement of the button 92, when the lower teeth 132 separate from the deep slots 123, due to the biasing action of the first spring 20 95, the inclined side surface 134 of each lower tooth 132

slides along both the leading oblique surface portion 126 of the lower end surface 125 of the corresponding vertical rib 122 and the corresponding inclined side surface 129 of the corresponding upper triangular teeth 127, as shown 25 in Fig. 13. As a result, the rotating gear 93 rotates within the first braking housing 91 in a predetermined direction. When the button 92 reaches the lower limit position, the

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upper end tip of each lower teeth 132 engage both the leading oblique surface portion 126 and the vertical surface portion 126' of the lower end surface 125 of the corresponding vertical rib 122 of the first braking housing 91, as shown 5 in Fig. 14. This maintains the button 92 in the lower limit position.

When the button 92 is depressed once again, the upper triangular teeth 127 continue to move the lower teeth 132 and, thus, the rotating gear 93 downwardly. When the upper 10 end tip of each lower tooth 132 moves past a lower end of the vertical surface portion 126' of the lower end surface 125 of the corresponding vertical rib 122, the inclined side surface 134 of each lower tooth 132 slides along the trailing oblique surface portion 126" of the lower end 15 surface 125 of the corresponding vertical rib 122. Hence,

the lower teeth 132 of the rotating gear 93 are biased by the first spring 95 to move respectively into the deep slots 123 in the first braking housing 91 so as to return the button 92 to the upper limit position. 20 In view of the above, the lower end surface 125 of each of the vertical ribs 122 defines a zigzag path for the corresponding lower tooth 132 between two of the deep slots 123 in the first braking housing 91.

As such, downward movement of the button 92 from the 25 upper limit position to the lower limit position results in both downward movement of the rotating gear 93 and rotation of the rotating gear 93 bout a central axis thereof

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in the predetermined direction, whereas upward movement of the button 92 from the lower limit position to the upper limit position results in both upward movement of the rotating gear 93 and rotation of the rotating gear 93 about 5 the central axis in the predetermined direction.

Referring to Figs. 1, 7, 8, and 15, a second brake assembly 90' is connected to the first brake assembly 90 by means of a cable unit 143. The cable unit 143 includes a flexible outer tube 144 and a flexible wire 145. The 10 second brake assembly 90' is attached to the second side frame section 12' at a location adjacent to the rear wheel 22 of the second side frame section 12'. The second brake assembly 90' includes a second braking housing 146 disposed on the rear wheel 22 of the second side frame section 12' , 15 a second pin 147 with two ears 148 held within the second braking housing 146, a second wedge 149 with a second inclined surface 150 in slidable contact with the ears 148, and a second spring 151 in the form of a coiled compression spring. The second pin 147 is movable between a second pin 20 braking position and a second pin release position. The second spring 151 biases the second wedge 149 to move in a first direction (Dl) to a second wedge bottom position so as to allow the second pin 147 to be biased to the second pin braking position.

25 The flexible wire 145 has two ends that are fastened respectively to the second wedge 14 9 and an arm 152 disposed fixedly on the middle plate portion 136 of the first wedge

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95. The arm 152 is received slidably within a slide slot 153 in the first braking housing 91, and therefore is guided to move vertically in the first braking housing 91. As such, when the first wedge 94 moves downwardly from the first 5 wedge top position to the first wedge bottom position, the second wedge 149 moves from the second wedge bottom position to a second wedge top position in a second direction (D2) opposite to the first direction (Dl) against the biasing action of the second spring 151. Hence, the second pin 147 10 moves from the second pin braking position to the second pin release position, thereby duplicating the action of the first pin 96 with the second pin 147.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 16, a foldable cup holder 30' is disposed on the second side frame section 12' , and 15 includes a mounting plate 85, a ring sliding fixture 94',

a semicircular yoke 88, and a bottom support 89. The mounting plate 85 is attached to the stroller frame 10, and has a vertical slot 92' . The ring sliding fixture 94' includes a pivot pin 96' and a ring 86 connected fixedly 20 to the pivot pin 96'. The pivot pin 96' is disposed slidably along the vertical slot 92' in the mounting plate 85, and is movable between an upper limit position and a lower limit position. As such, an outer side 87 of the ring 86 is rotatable about the pivot pin 96' . The yoke 88 has two ends 25 connected respectively and pivotally to two opposite sides of the ring 86 by pivots 100, and is concentric with the ring 86. A midpoint of the yoke 88 is connected pivotally

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to the mounting plate 85 by a pivot 98, and is disposed above the vertical slot 92' in the mounting plate 85. The bottom support 89 is connected pivotally to the mounting plate 85 by a pivot 102. A foldable link unit 106 5 interconnects the bottom support 89 and the ring 86.

Alternatively, the bottom support 8 9 may be suspended from the ring 86 by a cylinder of flexible material 112, shown by the phantom lines in Fig. 12.

When the pivot pin 96' is disposed in the upper limit 10 position, the ring 86 is in a horizontal position so as to allow a cup (not shown) to be placed on the bottom support 89. To fold the cup holder 30', the pivot pin 96' is moved to the lower limit position so as to pivot the ring 86 to a vertical position, thereby allow the ring 86 and the bottom 15 support 89 to abut against the mounting plate 85.

The cup holder 30' further includes a retaining unit consisting of first and second retainers 108, 110 that are disposed respectively on the bottom support 89 and the yoke

88 and that are configured as snap fasteners. When the ring 20 86 is disposed in the vertical position, the bottom support

89 can be pivoted upwardly so as to interconnect the first and second retainers 108, 110, thereby maintaining the ring 86 in the vertical position and covering both the ring 86 and the yoke 88.

25 Referring to Figs. 1 and 17, two inverted U-shaped flexible canopy frames 36' , 38' are disposed on the stroller frame 10, and are connected rotatably to a canopy-mounting

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member 40' at a common frame pivot point 49. Each of the canopy-mounting members 40' is sleeved movably on the corresponding handle tube 4 6, and is movable along a canopy track 41 that is formed with a row of positioning slots 5 43. A spring-loaded mechanism (not shown) is provided within each of the canopy-mounting members 40' to engage aselectedoneofthepositioningslots43. Arelease button 47 is disposed on each of the canopy-mounting members 40' , and is operable to remove the spring-loaded mechanism from 10 the selected positioning slot 43. As such, the positions of the canopy-mounting members 40' can be adjusted. Two linkages 39 are adjacent respectively to the handle tubes 46. Each of the linkages 39 includes two frame links 39', each of which has opposite inner and outer ends. The outer 15 ends of the frame links 39' of each of the linkages 39 are connected respectively and pivotally to the canopy frames 36' , 38' . The inner ends of the frame links 39' of each of the linkages 39 are interconnected pivotally.

Fig. 18 shows the second preferred embodiment of a 20 foldable stroller according to this invention includes a stroller frame 10, which is similar in construction to the first preferred embodiment. The stroller frame 10 has two side frame sections 12, each of which includes an inclined front leg 14 having a lower end mounted with a front wheel 25 16, and an inclined rear leg 18. Two rear wheel links 20

are connected respectively to two rear wheels 22. Each of the rear wheel links 20 has a lower end connected fixedly

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to the corresponding rear wheel 22, and an upper end connected pivotally to the corresponding rear leg 18 by means of a lower pivot connector 24. The lower pivot connectors 24 are connected respectively and fixedly to 5 the rear legs 18, and are connected respectively and pivotally to the rear wheel links 20.

The side frame sections 12 are interconnected by a rear X-support 26 and a bottom X-support 28 . The rear X-support 26 includes two inclined intersecting leg links 26' that 10 are connected pivotally to each other at middle portions thereof. The leg links 26' have lower ends connected respectively and pivotally to the lower pivot connectors 24, and upper ends connected respectively and pivotally to two upper pivot connectors 27. The bottom X-support 28 15 includes two horizontal intersecting leg links 28' that are connected pivotally to each other at middle portions thereof. Each of the leg links 28' is connected pivotally to the corresponding lower pivot connector 24 at one end thereof, and to the corresponding front leg 14 at the other 20 end thereof by a front pivot connector 29. As such, the front legs 14 can move toward and away from each other. The rear legs 18 can also move toward and away from each other. Therefore, when the stroller frame 10 is folded, the width thereof can be reduced.

25 Each of the front wheels 16 is connected to the corresponding rear wheel link 20 by a pivoting support 32 and through its connection to the corresponding front leg

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14. Each of the pivoting support 32 has a front end connected pivotally to the corresponding front leg 14, and a rear end connected pivotally to the corresponding rear wheel link 20. A flexible accessories basket 30 has two 5 opposite sides that are fastened respectively to the pivoting supports 32.

The stroller frame 10 further includes two seat supports 40 and two telescopic handle units. The seat supports 40 can support a baby seat (not shown) thereon. Each of the 10 seat supports 40 has a front end connected pivotally to the corresponding front leg 14 by a pivot pin 42, and a rear end connected pivotally to the corresponding lower pivot connector 24. Each of the handle units includes a lower outer tube 34, a grip member 44, and an upper handle 15 tube 46 that has a lower end mounted telescopically within an upper end of the lower outer tube 34, and an upper end connected fixedly to the grip member 44 . Each of the lower outer tubes 34 is connected to the corresponding front leg 14 by a U-shaped pivot fitting 36. Each of the U-shaped 20 pivot fittings 36 has a lower portion sleeved fixedly on the upper end of the corresponding front leg 14, and an upper portion connected pivotally to the corresponding lower outer tube 34.

Referring to Figs. 18, 19, 21, 22 and 23, two elongated 25 canopy mounting connectors 48 are sleeved respectively on the lower outer tubes 34. Each of the lower outer tubes 34 is formed with a plurality of holes 35 therethrough.

The canopy mounting connectors 48 have a plurality of integral projections 60 extending respectively into the holes 35 in the lower outer tubes 34 . As a result, the upper handle tubes 46 can move within the lower outer tubes 34, whereas the canopy mounting connectors 4 8 cannot move on the lower outer tubes 34. The upper handle tubes 46 can be locked on the lower outer tubes 34 in a known manner. As such, the lengths of the handle units can be adjusted according to the height of the user.

Each of the rear legs 18 is connected rotatably to the canopy mounting connectors 48 by a pivot pin 38 . Thus, each of the lower outer tubes 34 cooperates with the corresponding canopy mounting connector 48, the corresponding front leg 14 and the corresponding rear leg 18 so as to constitute an inverted Y-shaped structure.

Each of the canopy mounting connectors 4 8 further has a slide slot 53 extending along a longitudinal direction thereof and configured as a dovetail groove. Two sliding connectors 54 are formed with dovetail tongues (not shown) confined respectively and slidably within the slide slots 53 in the canopy mounting connectors 48, and are connected respectively and fixedly to two ends of an inverted U-shaped canopy frame 50. The sliding connectors 54 are locked releaseably on the canopy mounting connectors 48. When pushbuttons 56 on the sliding connectors 54 are pressed, the sliding connectors 54 can be moved on the canopy mounting connectors 48. This allows position adjustment of the

canopy frame 50.

The upper pivot connectors 27 are respectively sleeved and locked on upper ends of the lower outer tubes 34 by two rivets 62, as shown in Fig. 23. Each of the rivets 62 extends through both the corresponding upper pivot connector 27 and a notch 64 in the corresponding lower outer tube 34 so as to prevent movement of the upper pivot connectors 27 on the lower outer tubes 34.

When it is desired to fold the stroller frame 10, the handle units are moved relative to the remaining part of the stroller frame 10 in a direction (C) , as shown in Fig. 19. During folding, the lower outer tubes 34 rotate relative to the pivot fittings 36. This causes each of the rear legs 18 to rotate relative to the corresponding front leg 14 in a plane, on which the corresponding front leg 14 is disposed. Hence, each of the rear legs 18 moves toward a horizontal position, and the rear wheels 22 rotate about the lower pivot connectors 24 toward the front wheels 16 in a direction (B). As a result, when the stroller frame 10 is completely folded, as shown in Fig. 20, the distance between the front wheels 16 and the rear wheels 22 does not increase, and instead decrease.

After the stroller frame 10 is completely folded, the upper handle tubes 4 6 and the canopy frame 50 can be moved from extended positions shown by the phantom lines in Fig. 20 to retracted positions shown by the solid lines in the same drawing. In the retracted positions, the grip members

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44 are disposed directly above the front wheels 16, and the canopy frame 50 is disposed between the front wheels 16 and the rear wheels 22. As such, the folded stroller frame 10 is relatively compact.

5 Preferably, the foldable stroller frame 10 of the second preferred embodiment is further provided with the foldable footrest, the hinge unit, the fold bar, the latch assembly, and the release unit of the first preferred embodiment. In this case, when it is desired to fold the stroller frame 10 10, it is necessary to operate the control handle of the release unit prior to moving the handle units in the direction (C) (see Fig. 19).

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Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A foldable stroller comprising:

a stroller frame having opposite first and second 5 side frame sections, each of which is provided with a rear wheel; and a first brake assembly attached to the first side frame section at a location adjacent to the rear wheel of the first side frame section, the first brake assembly 10 including a first braking housing disposed on the rear wheel of the first side frame section;

a first pin held within the first braking housing and movable between a first pin braking position and a 15 first pin release position, and a button disposed movably within the first braking housing and movable between a first position, where the first pin is disposed in the first pin braking position so as to prevent rotation of the rear wheel of 20 the first side frame section, and a second position, where the first pin is disposed in the first pin release position so as to allow for rotation of the rear wheel of the first side frame section.

25 2. The foldable stroller of claim 1, further comprising:

a second brake assembly attached to the second side frame section at a location adjacent to the rear wheel

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of the second side frame section, the second brake assembly including a second braking housing disposed on the rear wheel of the second side frame section,

a second pin held within the second braking housing and movable between a second pin braking position and a second pin release position, and a flexible wire interconnecting the first and second brake assemblies in such a manner to duplicate the action of the first pin with the second pin.

The foldable stroller of claim 1, wherein the button is movable between an upper limit position constituting the first position, and a lower limit position constituting the second position.

The foldable stroller of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first brake assembly further includes a rotating gear disposed within the first braking housing immediately under the button, downward movement of the button from the first position to the second position resulting in both downward movement of the rotating gear and rotation of the rotating gear about a central axis thereof in a predetermined direction, upward movement of the button from the second position to the first position resulting in both upward movement of the rotating gear and rotation of the rotating gear about the central axis in the

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predetermined direction.

5. The foldable stroller of claim 4, wherein the first pin is formed with an integral sliding member, the first brake 5 assembly further including:

a first wedge disposed within the first braking housing immediately under the rotating gear and co-movable with the rotating gear, the first wedge having a first inclined surface, the first wedge being movable 10 between a first wedge top position, where the first pin is disposed in the first pin braking position, and a first wedge bottom position, where the first pin is pushed by the first inclined surface to the first pin release position; and

15 a small spring for biasing the sliding member of the first pin to press against the first inclined surface of the first wedge.

6. The foldable stroller of claim 5, wherein the first wedge 20 further has a vertical pin slot formed therethrough, the first pin including a pin body that extends through the pin slot and that has opposite first and second ends, the first end of the pin body extending into the rear wheel of the first side frame section when the first pin 25 is disposed in the first pin braking position, the second end of the pin body being formed with two aligned ears that extends radially and outwardly therefrom away from

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each other and that constitutes the sliding member, the ears being biased to press against the first inclined surface of the first wedge.

5 7. The foldable stroller of claim 4, wherein the first brake housing has a cylindrical inner surface formed with an inward flange extending radially and inwardly therefrom, and a plurality of equidistant vertical ribs extending downwardly from the inward flange, 10 each adjacent pair of the vertical ribs defining a vertical deep slot, each of the vertical ribs being formed with a zigzag lower end surface that has a leading oblique surface portion, a trailing oblique surface portion, and a vertical surface portion interconnecting the leading 15 and trailing oblique surface portions;

the button is cylindrical, is movable vertically within the first braking housing, and has a serrated annular lower end formed with a plurality of upper triangular teeth, each of the upper triangular teeth 20 having two inclined side surfaces defining a lower end tip;

the rotating gear includes a cylindrical body having an annular outer surface formed with a plurality of spaced-apart lower teeth, each of which is formed with 25 a vertical side surface and an inclined side surface defining an upper end tip, the lower teeth being located respectively and slidably within the deep slots in the

first braking housing when the button is disposed in the first position, the lower teeth separating from the deep slots in the first braking housing when the button is disposed in the second position, the upper end tip of each of the lower teeth of the rotating gear engaging both the leading oblique surface portion and the vertical surface portion of the lower end surface of a corresponding one of the vertical ribs of the first braking housing so as to maintain the button in the second position when the button is disposed in the second position; and the first brake assembly further includes a first spring for biasing the button to the first position such that, when the button moves downwardly from the first position to the second position and when the lower teeth of the rotating gear separate from the deep slots in the first braking housing, the inclined surfaces of the lower teeth of the rotating gear slides on the leading and trailing oblique surface portions of the lower end surfaces of the vertical ribs of the first braking housing so as to rotate the rotating gear within the first braking housing.

. The foldable stroller of claim 7, wherein the button further has an annular outer surface formed with a plurality of upper guide protrusions, the upper guide protrusions being received respectively and slidably

within the deep slots in the first brake housing so as to guide the button to move vertically within the first braking housing.

. The foldable stroller of claim 5, wherein the rotating gear has a hollow cylindrical body that is formed with a top wall; and the first wedge has a horizontal middle plate portion, an upper insert portion extending upwardly from a central portion of the middle plate portion, and a lower wedge portion extending downwardly from the middle plate portion and formed with the first inclined surface, the upper insert portion being inserted into the hollow cylindrical body of the rotating gear and abutting against the top wall of the rotating gear so as to allow for synchronous vertical movement of the rotating gear and the first wedge.

0. The foldable stroller of claim 9, wherein the second pin is biased to the second pin braking position;

the second brake assembly further includes a second wedge formed with a second inclined surface in slidable contact with a portion of the second pin, and a second spring for biasing the second wedge to move in a first direction to a second wedge bottom position so as to allow the second pin to be biased to the second pin

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braking position; and the flexible wire interconnects the first and second wedges such that downward movement of the first wedge from the first wedge top position to the first wedge 5 bottom position results in movement of the second wedge from the second wedge bottom position to a second wedge top position in a second direction opposite to the first direction against the biasing action of the second spring so as to move the second pin from the second pin 10 braking position to the second pin release position.