GB2211243A

GB2211243A - Locking strut for toy perambulator

Info

Publication number: GB2211243A
Application number: GB8724726A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David John Padgett
Original assignee: PADGETT BROS
Current assignee: PADGETT BROS
Priority date: 1987-10-22
Filing date: 1987-10-22
Publication date: 1989-06-28
Also published as: GB8724726D0

Abstract

A resilient locking strut, eg. for folding toy perambulators comprising two pairs 2, 4 and 10, 12 of pivotally connected elongate members, is attached e.g. welded to one or preferably a pair of members 10, 12 and has a free end or ends bent at right angles and adapted for engagement or disengagement with an aperture 22 in the other member or members 2, 4 under the resilience of the strut 26. Preferably the strut is U-shaped with a portion 24 welded to both members 10, 12. Safety caps 32 may be applied to the ends of the strut. <IMAGE>

Description

Locking Strut for Toy Perambulator The invention relates, at least primarily, to the construction of folding toy perambulators, but may also find application in the construction of full-size folding perambulators and other structures which fold to a collapsed state for storage and need to be held in an unfolded mode in use.

Hitherto, a variety of mechanisms have been proposed and used to maintain foldable structures in unfolded mode, but generally these have suffered from one or other of the disadvantages of being expensive to manufacture, or being difficult to engage and hazardous (particularly to little children) to operate and use.

It is an object of the present invention, therefor, to alleviate the abovementioned problems.

According to the invention we provide, in a toy perambulator or other structure, a first pair of spaced parallel elongate members, a second pair of spaced parallel elongate members, each of the members of the first pair being pivotally connected with one of the members of the second pair whereby the respective pairs of members may be angularly displaced relative to one another about said pivots, the structure further comprising locking means for securing the respective pairs of members in a predetermined angular relationship, the locking means comprising an elongate resilient member secured to one or each of the members of the first pair, the or each resilient member being bent at a right angle adjacent its free end, and an orifice in one or both of the members of the second pair of members for receiving the terminal portion of the resilient member or members.

The terminal portion of the or each resilient member may pass completely through the corresponding member of the second pair and be capped by a safety cap.

The resilient members may comprise a single length of resilient wire extending between and being secured to the members of the first pair. Said securing may be by welding.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 shows the structure in side elevation; Figure 2 shows the structure in end elevation; and Figure 3 shows the structure in perspective view.

As shown in the Figures the essential components of the apparatus of the invention comprise a first pair of elongate tubular and essentially rectilinear members 2, 4 which are parallel to one another. As indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1 the members terminate at their respective ends in a ground wheel 6 and a handle 8, but in other structures employing the invention these elements may not occur.

A further pair of elongate tubular members 10, 12 are arranged parallel to one another and, though in this case not rectilinear yet are similarly shaped, are spaced apart but less than the members 2, 4. The respective pairs of members cross one another and the members 2, 10 are pivoted to one another by means of a pin iLl terminating in protective caps 16, whilst between the members 2 and 10 the pin 14 is covered by a spacing washer 18. The elongate members 4 and 12 are similarly pivoted together by a pin 20 coaxial with pin 14.

Each of the members 2, 4 is provided with a diametral bore 22 parallel to the pins 14, 20 to receive a respective terminal portions of a locking strut.

The strut comprises a length of resilient wire on which the central portion 24 extends between and is secured by welding to the respective members 10, 12 at approximately the same distance from the pivots 14, 20 as separates the pivots from the bores 22. At the exterior of the members 10, 12, the strut wire is bent at right angles to provide intermediate portions 26, and adjacent its ends the wire is again bent through 900 to provide terminal portions 28 which are just long enough to pass through the respective tubular members 4, 2 from the inside and project outwardly therefrom.

The ends are covered with a protective cap 32.

In use of the apparatus as shown, and firstly to release the structure so that it can be folded for storage, the end caps 32 are removed from the ends of the resilient wire, and the wire is bent inwardly between the portions 26 and 24 to withdraw the terminal portions inwardly from the bores 22 whereupon the members 2, 4 can be pivoted relative to the members 10, 12. Conversely, to erect the apparatus to a stable, unfolded form, members 2, 4 are pivoted relative to the members 10, 12 about the respective pivot pins 14, 20 until the bores 22 are in approximate alignment with the terminal portions of the flexible wire. The portions 22 of the wire are again bent inwardly, the terminal portions and the bores 22 are precisely aligned, and the wire is released so that its terminal portions enter the bores and secure the members 2, 4 and 10, 12 in angularly spaced position. The protruding ends of the wire are covered by the end caps 32.

Claims

1. A toy perambulator or other structure comprising a first pair of spaced parallel elongate members, a second pair of spaced parallel elongate members, each of the members of the first pair being pivotally connected with one of the members of the second pair whereby the respective pairs of members may be angularly displaced relative to one another about said pivots, characterised in that the structure further comprising locking means for securing the respective pairs of members in a predetermined angular relationship, the locking means comprising an elongate resilient member secured to at least one of the members of the first pair, the or each resilient member being bent at a right angle adjacent its free end, and an orifice in the corresponding one or both of the members of the second pair of members for receiving the terminal portion of the resilient member or members.

2. A toy perambulator or other structure according to Claim 1 wherein an elongate'resilient member is secured to each of the members of the first pair and there is an orifice for receiving the terminal portion of the respective members in each of the members of the second pair.

3. A toy perambulator or other structure according to Claim 2 wherein the resilient members constitute ends of a single length of resilient wire extending between and being secured to the members of the first pair.

Ll. A toy perambulator or other structure according to Claim 3 wherein the single length of resilient wire is secured to the members of the first pair by welding.

5. A toy perambulator or other structure according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the terminal portion of the or each resilient member passes completely through the corresponding member of the second pair and is capped by a safety cap.

6. A toy perambulator or other structure comprising a first pair of spaced parallel elongate members, a second pair of spaced parallel elongate members, each of the members of the first pair being pivotally connected with one of the members of the second pair whereby the respective pairs of members may be angularly displaced relative to one another about the said pivot, substantially as described by reference to the figures.