GB2550022A

GB2550022A - Foldable stroller

Info

Publication number: GB2550022A
Application number: GB1703639.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ding Ze-Hua
Original assignee: Wonderland Switzerland AG
Current assignee: Wonderland Switzerland AG
Priority date: 2016-03-10
Filing date: 2017-03-07
Publication date: 2017-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 2037-03-07
Also published as: GB201703639D0; GB202105823D0; GB2593826B; CN113799864B; CN113799864A; GB2593826A; DE202017101286U1; CN107176197A; CN107176197B; GB2550022B

Abstract

A foldable stroller 100 has a foldable frame 110, a seat tube 130 extending in a front-and-rear direction, a seat plate 121 slidable on the seat tube 130, and a linking mechanism (crossbar 150, transmitting member 160, figs 4 & 6) linking the frame 110 and the seat plate 12 so that when the frame is folded by pivoting a front portion 112 of the frame the seat plate slides relative to the seat tube 130 from a front position to a rear position to render the folded stroller compact. The transmitting member 160 may have an inclined slot (161, fig 8) so that the relative position of crossbar 150 to seat plate 121 can vary. An embodiment (figs 9-11) permits rotation of seat plate 121 to crossbar 150.

Description

FOLDJ^IiE SfROLLER

The discloE 1'e relates a stroller, and more particularly to a foldable stroller. A cpa^entional foldable iStroller generally includes at least one seat securely or detachably conneeted to a stroller frame. When folding the Stroller, the seat must be firstly removed from the stroller fra,Tne> and the stroller frame iS then folded. The task ol folding as such is relatively complicated and inconvenient to cohduct,; and an additional space is needed for storing the: removed Seat. Another stroller nasi the seat folded with the stroller frame. Such seat would proiect from an end of the stroller frame after being folded. As such, the stroller is still relatively bulky even after it is folded, especially the type of stroller having an elongated seat for carrying two babies, thereby resulting In inconvenience during storage: and: transport..

It is therefore dboirod to provide a foldable stroller which has a simple Gonstruetion and which is more compact after being folded.

Therefore, an objeot Of the disclosure is to provide a foldable stroller that eah alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

According to the disclosure, the foldable stroller includes a stroller frame having a rear portion and a front portion which is pivotably connected to the rear portion such that the stroller frame is foldable, by a pivoting movemieiSifc: ^ firont portioe::, from an wnfoldeci sstafeie,; where the front portion is remote from the rear portion, to a folded state, where the front portion is close to the rear portion, A seat tube extends from the front portion to the rear portion in a front-and-rear direction of the stroller frame. A seat plate is cohnccted to the tube.

The seat plate is slidable relati’^O to the seat tube in the front-and-rear direction between a front positiorx and a rear position. The foldable stroller further includes a linking mechanism disposed to link the Stroller frame and the seat plate such that, when the stroller frame is folded irom the unfolded State to the folded state by the pivotinf movement of the front portion, the seat plat®:: is islided relative to the iseat tube from: the froint posibioh to the rear poisiition::.

Other features: and advantages Oif the disciosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the acGompanying drawings,: of wli ich: ΡΊΟ. 1 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of a foldable stroller according to the disclosure; FIQ. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment;

Fid. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment taken from another angle; FIQ. 4 is an enlarged view of an encircled portion (A) in FIOv 3; FIG. 5 is a perspectiv® view of the embodiment taken from still anotiber angle; FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of an enciroled portion (B) in FIG. S; FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another ernbodiment df a foldable stroller aooording to the disclosure; FIG. 8 iS:: a perspectit^e view of the efihQdiinent of PIG?: 7, but f'^ucen from another angle; FIG, 9 is a perspective view of still ahother embodiment of a foldable stroller abbording to the disclosure; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of tie embodiment of FIG. 9, but taken from another angle; and FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of: an:: encircled portion (m in FIG. 1:0::.

Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures: to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 11, a foldaole stroller 100 of this disclosure according to the present invention includes a foldable stroller frame 110 and front and rear seats 120, 12 0' disposed on the stroller frame 110; and arranged along a f ront-and-rear direction Of the stroller frame 110, in the following description, a Sliding structure is employed With the front seat 120 for illustration::.

Speieif icaiiy, the stroller frame 110 inoliides a handle 111, a front leg 111, a rear leg 111 and an aannrest 114, For sake of simplicity and clarity, the front leg 112 is regarded as a front poi^tion 112, and the handle 111, the rear armrest 114 are regarded as a rear portion 111, 113, 114. Bpper ends of the front and rear legs 11:1, 113 are pivotably conneeted to the armrest 114, and lower ends thereof have wheels llS connected thereto. An upper: ehd of the armrest 114 is pivotably connected to a middle portion of the handle 111. A lower end di the handle 111 is retainlngly engageable wi th a locking portion (113a:) of;: the rear leg 113. An upper end of the: handle 111 has an operating portion (111a) , When the stroiller frame lli iS: in an unfolded state, the lower end of the handle 111 is retainlngly engaged with the locking portion (113a) soas to retain the stroller frame 110 in the unfolded state;, ifhen the lower end of the handle 111 is released from the;:; locking portion {113a) , a pivoting movement of the; front portion 112 relative to the rear portion 111,113,114 can be made for folding the stroller frame lid. Thus, the stroller frame 110 |;s foldable^ by the pivoting movement of the front portion 112, from the unfolded state, where the front portidh 112 is remdte from the rear portion 111,113,114, to a folded state, where the front portion 112 is close to the rear portion l;ll, 11;3,114 .

As sho;wn in FIG, 1, the; foldable stroller 100 further inclppes a seat tube 130 extencLaag to interconnect the fronb leg iti and the handle 111 in the front-and-rear front seat 120 is mounted on a front portion of the heat tube 130 and between two front leg portions Of the front leg 112. The rear seat 120' is mounted on a rear portion of the seat tube 130 and between two handle portions of the handle lll> When folding the stroller frame 110, the front seat 12 0 is driven to Slide rearwardly along the seat tube 130 so as to render the stroller 100 compact. Since the rear seat 12 0' is of a hnown type, description of the same will not be provided herein for the sake of breviti'·.

With reference to Fldi;. 1 to f, in an embodiment of the foldable strollet 100;, the front seat 120 includes a seat plate 121 connected to th® ppat tube 130, and slidable relative to the seat tube 130 in the front-and-rear direction between a front position and a rear position. Thus, the seat plate 121 is dfideh to slide rearwardly from the front position to the rear position when the stroller frarie no is being folded so as to render the stroller 110 compaet.

As shown in FIGS. 1 ahd G;, a sliding sleeve 14 0 is securely mounted on a side portion, lof the Seat plate 121, and is slidably sleeved on the seat tube 130 to permit the sliding movement ;of the seat plate 121 relative to; the seat tube 13:0;.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to f, the stroller 100 further includes a linking mecfeanisni: li;0,160 disposed to link the front portion 112 and the seat plate 121 such that, when the stroller frame 110 is folded from the unfolded state to the folded state by the pivoting movement of the front pOftiOh 112 > the seat plate 121 is slided relative to the: 'seat tube'13 0 from the froht'positiiea toi t:he reaf''poe:it::i:Oh'i: Specifically, the linking mechahism:: includes:'a crossbar ISO which is disposed under the seat plate 12:1 and which has two ends securely connected to the front leg 112, and a transmitting member 160 which interconnects the seat plate l21 and the crossbar ISO. The transmitting member l|i extends in the front-and-rear position, and has an end which is pivotably connected to a protrusion (121a) of the lower portion of the seat plate 121 through a pivot shaft, and an cppcsitc end which is pivotably conhectcd to the crossbar If 0 sach that the crossbar ISO is disposed to be moved relative to the seat plate 121 when the stroller frame llO is fClded tC the folded state. WhCh the stroller frame 110 is being folded, the crossbar ISd is moved with the front leg 112 by the pivoting movement Of the front leg 112. The movement Cf the crossbar 150 is transmitted by the transmitting member 160 to drive the sliding movement of the seat plate 121 relative to tbe seat tube 130 to the rear position. Hence, the relative position between the crossbar ϋΟ and the seat plate 121 is yaried during the folding operation of the stroller frame 110.

When it is desired to fold the stroller lOi, the handle

Ill is released from the locking portion (113a), and the operating portion (Ilia) pf the handle 111 is pressed to bring the handle 111 in a forwardly pivoting movement while permitting the front leg 112 to pivot toward the rear leif 113 . The crossbar 150 is: adtuatted to move rearwardly with the front leg 112 sd iaSitd piill the seat plate 12sl to slide along the seat tube 130 to the rear poisiition::. when the stroller ifarae 110 is folded td the::folded st:a:£e, the"seat pla:fe:e 1:21 dOiB s ndf:pno|e:et:::fr©m a top portion of the sfroller irameMllQ" iSi© as to render the strOiller·'frame 110 ©ompacit.

Wi:t:h reiference to EISS . % and 8, in another embodiment of the: foldable stroller ISO,: the transmitting member 160 is seourely mounted on the lower portion of the seat plate 121. The transmitting member 160 has an inclined slot 161. The crossbai" ISO is extended through and is movable relative to the iTiclined slot 161 to vary the position thereof relative Id the seat plate 121. When the stroller frame 110 is being folded, the crossbar 150 is moved with the front portion 112 by the pivoting motemeht of the front portion 112. The movement of the crossbar 150 can press the trahsmittingtrtember 160 through the movable;connection between the crossbar 150 and an inner wall of the inclined slot 161 so as to slide the seat plate 12:1 relatiye to the seat tube:i:3 o to the::re:ar pos ition. During this operation, the Croesbar ISO is moved in the inclined slot 161 so that the reiatiye position between the crossbar 150 and the seat plate 121 ig: varied.

Sim:ilarl|-j:: in this erabiDdiTnent:, when the sfeirDllen inam®: 110 is beinf fpided, the front leg 112 is turned toward the rear Isig 1 If land th®: crossbar 15 0 is mo^'vdd thbbb^4fch:^ UY; the movable connection between the crosisba^^ 15| SEtd the: ianeir wall of the inclined slot 161 and the movement of: the crossbnn 150 in the inclined slot 161, the seht plate 121 is pressed to slide along the seat thbe: 13 0 tb the rear position. When the stroller frame 110; is foldel to the folded state, the: Seat plate 121 does not project from a top portion of the stroller frame 110 so asi to:::rend.er thes stroller frame 110 compact.

Heiierriing t:0 figs. 9 to: 1::1::, still another embodiment of: the fO:l:dab::l:e :S:t:roller 10:0: :i:Si shown. In this embOidiment, the sliding sleeve 140 is pivotably connected to a side portion of the seat plate 121 thronih: a pivot shaft 141 (see FIG. 11) so as to permit rotation of the seat plate 121 relative bo the seat tube 130. The crossbar 150 is pivotably connected tp ths seat plate 12|. Specifically, the: crossbar 150 is jonrnalled on the: lower portion of the seat plate 121 through a connecting member 170 so as to permit notation of the crossbar 150 relative to the seafe plate 121, bat the positionof the crossbar 151 relative to the seat plate lil is hot Varied. The crossbar 150 is also Secured to the front leg 112 at two ends thereof. By virtue of the movement of the crossbar ISO: with the front leg 112, the seat plate 121 slides: relative to the seat tube 130 and is rotated.

Refierring to FIGS. 10 and tlie:: eonnecting member 170 has a curved middle portion wMch is configured to fit thescrossbar 150, and two ends of which are secured to the seat p.a te 121 such that only the rotational movement of the crossbar 150 relative to the seat platf 121 is permittai·, and the relative position therebetween is not varied;.

In this embodiment, when it is desired to fold the stloller 100, the handle 111 is released from the locking portion (113a), and the operating portion (Ilia) of the handle 111 is pressed to bring the handle 111 in a forwardly pivoting movement while permitting the front leg 112 to pivot toward the rear leg 113 . The crossbar ISO is moved rearwardly with the front leg 112 by the pivoting moyement Of the front leg 112 to slide the seat plate 121 along the seat tube 130: to the rear position, ίφ the same time, the seat plate ill is rotated about the; pivot shaft Hi · Thus, the seat plate 121 is rotated and slides relative to the seat tube II#. When the stroller framo 110 is folded to the folded state, the seat plate 121 does not progeet f rom ai top portion of ttie stroller frame 110 Soas to render the Stroller frame 110 compact.

In this disclosure, the foldable stroller 100 having front and rear seats 120, 120' is as an example. It is appreciated that the foldable Stroller 100 of this invention may have Only One seat.

Km illustrated, the foldable; stroller 100 according to ttiis invention inoiuaes m. loMable stroller frame 110, a seat tube 13 0 disposed on the st*jpller frame 110, and a scia-t. plate 121 oopaattiid to the seat tube 130.

Ihe seat tube 13 0 extends in the front and-rear direst ion of the stroller frame 110. Folding Of the stroller frame 110 can make a Sliding tiiO-temerit of the seat plate 121 toward the rear end Of the stroller 100 relative to the seat tube 1;30. Thus, when the stroller frame 110 is in the folded state, the seat plate 121 does not pro|ject from a top port ion of the sstroller frame illO so as to render the stroiller iOO compaot: for facilitating storage and transport. Besides the stroller 100 has a simple eonstruction, and the task of folding the stroller 100 is relatively conyenient to conduct,

Claims

iLAIMS:

1. A foldable stroller oomprising:; a stroller fimme ba^iiig a rear portion and a front portion which is pi^^otably connected to said rear portion such that said stroller frame is foMable, by a pivoting ntovement of said front portion, from an unfolded state> #here Said front portion is reirtOte from said rear portion, to a folded state, where Said front portion is Olose to said rear portion; a seat tube extending from said front portion to said rear portion in a front-and-rear direotion of said stroller frame; s^d a seat plate connected to; said seat tube, characterized in that 5: said seat plate is slidable relative to said, seat tube; in the f rone -and- rear direction between a front position and a rear position; said foldable stroller further comprising a linking mechanism d.isposed to link said stroiier frame and said seat plate such that, when said stroller frame is folded from the unfolded state tO the folded state by the pivoting movement of said front portion, said seat plate is slided relativ;e to said seat tube from the front position to the; rear position.
2. The foldable stroller as claimed in Claim 1, Gharacterxzed by a sliding sleeve; which interconnects said seat plate and said seat tube to permit the sliding movement q£ said seat plate relative to said seat tuttie . :3, The foldable stroller as claimed in Claim 2:> characterized in that said sliding sleeve is pivotablf-connected dr securely connected to said seat plate:.
4, The £ -jL le stroller as clairaed in Claim 1, characterized in that said: linMng mechanism includes a crossbar securely connected: to said front portion. 5, : The fO:l:dable stroller as claimed in Claim:: 4, Characterized in that said crossbar is pivotably connecited: to said seat plate,, said seat pllaliei being ipivotiably^ connecCed to said sea:t tube o„.cjh thafei iSald::: crc:S:S:ba:rd:s moved with said front portion by theiPiycblli movement of a^l# front port lop to^ slide said seat plate relative to said seat tube to 'the rear position.
6, The foldable stroller as Claimed ifi Ciaim 5, characterized in that Said Crossbar is jourhalled on said seat plate so as to Chip permit rotation ct said crossbar relative to said seat plate when said stroller frame is folded to the folded state,
7, The foldable stroller as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that Said linking mechanism includes a transmitting member interconnecting; said seat plate and saidscrossbar suCh that said crossbar is moved with said front portion by the pivoting movement of said f ront; port ion and such that the movement; of said c;ros;sba,r is transmitted by said transmitting member to drive the sliding movement of said seat plate relative to saiid seafe tube to the reasr position. The foldable stroller as claitned in Claim %, charaGterized in that said transmitting member extends in the front-and-rear positidh to have two ends whidh are reSpeotivel'f and pivotably connected to said seat plate and said crossbar.
9. The foldable stroller as Claimed in Claim characterized in that said transraitti;:^ member is seenreiy mount ed on said seat plate, saidicros sbar being movably connected to Said transinitting member such that said crossbar is moved: with said front portion by the pivoting movement of said front portion and such that the movement of said crossbar is transmitted by said transmitting member to drive the sliding movement of said seat plate relalive to said seat tube to the rear position.
10. The foldable stroller as claimed in Claim 9, characterized in that Said transmitting m.ember has an inclined siCt, said crossbar being extended through and being movable relative to said inclined slot to press said trahsmi 11 ihg member to s l ide said seat plate.
11. The foldable stroller as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9, characterized in that said crossbar is disposed to be moved relative to said seat plate when said stroiler frame is folded to the folded state.
12. The foldable stroller as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that said front portion and said rear portion respectively inciucle a front leg and a rear leg which are pivotable reiative to each other, said crossbar being securely motinted on said front legt i|, fhe foldable stroller as claimed in Claim 1#, characterized in that said: crossbar is disposed to be aotuated by the pivoting movement of said front leg· to plide said seat plate to the rear position,
14,Idle foldable stroller as claimed in Claim 12, Characterized in that said rear portion further includes a handle which is pivotably connected to said front leg, said rear leg having a locking portion which is retainingly engaged with said handle to retain said stroller frame in the unfolded state:. IS. The foldable htroller as claimed in Claim 14, characterized in that said handle is disposed to have a lower end being retainei. to said looking portion Uhen said stroller frame Is: in the unfolded state.