HK1054721B - Stroller foldable in three for carrying a baby - Google Patents

Description

Stroller foldable into three layers

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a stroller that is foldable into three layers, and more particularly, to a stroller that is foldable into three layers with a fold and a retention mechanism that holds the fold in a folded condition and that is easily disengaged.

Background

Various folding strollers have been proposed for carrying the strollers out of the home for walking or shopping, which can be folded into three layers and held in a folded condition for storage and carrying.

Such a folding stroller has a fold and a retention mechanism. The folded body is folded into three layers and held in a folded state by a holding mechanism. Although the retention mechanism is of reliable strength and rigidity due to its combination with the folder, because the retention mechanism is remote from the stroller hands, the stroller user needs to remove both hands from the stroller handle to disengage the retention mechanism.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a stroller that can be folded into three layers and opened by operating a handle mechanism disposed at the hand.

According to the present invention, a stroller that is foldable into three layers includes: a pair of front support rods, a pair of rear support rods, a stroller handle having two side arms connected to the pair of rear support rods, respectively, and first and second side connection plates connecting lower end portions of the two side arms of the pair of front support rods and the stroller handle, wherein the first side connection plate has a hook at a front end thereof, and the second side connection plate has an engagement mechanism at a front end thereof for engaging the hook to hold the stroller in a folded state folded into three layers; and a control mechanism combined with the handle of the cart, the control mechanism being interlocked with the hook, the hook being disengageable from the engagement mechanism by operation of the control mechanism.

In the stroller according to the present invention, which is foldable into three layers, a slider is mounted on the lower end portion of the side arm of the handle of the stroller on the side of the first side connecting plate so as to be movable in the axial direction, the operating mechanism and the slider are connected by a first wire, and the slider and the hook are connected by a second wire.

In the stroller according to the present invention, which is foldable into three layers, a guard for guiding the second wire to the first side attachment plate is provided between the first side attachment plate and the lower end portion of the stroller handle side arm, the second wire extending along the first side attachment plate.

In the stroller according to the present invention, which is foldable into three layers, a rocker loop is disposed adjacent the hook for guiding the second wire to the hook.

In the stroller according to the present invention, which is foldable into three layers, the upper connecting bar extends between the first and second side attachment panels, and the rocker ring is mounted on the upper attachment panel.

In a stroller according to the present invention that is foldable into three layers, the hook has a hook tip that is engageable with the engagement mechanism, and the hook is pivotally supported on the first side attachment panel.

In the stroller according to the present invention, which is foldable into three layers, the hooks are urged by the springs in the engaging direction into engagement with the engaging mechanism.

In a stroller according to the present invention that is foldable into three layers, brackets and locking members are mounted between a pair of rear legs and a handle of the stroller, and a slider is connected to the locking member on one side of one of the rear legs, and the locking member can be disengaged from the corresponding bracket by moving the slider.

In the stroller according to the invention, which is foldable into three layers, the slide and the locking hook are interlocked by a pin attached to the slide so that they can be extended in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the side arm of the handle of the stroller.

In a stroller according to the invention that is foldable into three layers, the side arms of the stroller handle are formed with an axial slot along which the pin can move.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a stroller that is foldable into three layers in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the cart handle and side connection plates;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the cart handle and side connection plate;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a hook;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the stroller in a comparative example;

FIG. 7 is a view of the infant stroller shown in FIG. 1 folded into three layers; and

fig. 8 is a view that assists in explaining the retention mechanism in the folded-in-three state of the stroller.

Detailed Description

A stroller that is foldable into three layers in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to fig. 1-5.

Referring to fig. 1, fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of a stroller that is foldable into three layers, the stroller having two front legs (left and right front legs) 12 and two front wheels 11, two rear legs (left and right rear legs) 14 and two rear wheels 13, a generally U-shaped stroller handle 15, two armrests (left and right armrests) 16, and a removable fender 17 (see fig. 6) extending between the armrests 16. The cart handle 15 has left and right side arms 15a, 15 a. The rear ends of the armrest 16 are pivotally connected to portions of the left and right side arms 15a, 15a of the cart handle 15 near the lower ends, respectively. The upper end portions of the two front stays 12 are pivotally connected to the front end portions of the two armrests 16, respectively. The upper end portions of the two rear struts 14 are pivotally connected to the middle portions of the two armrests 16, respectively. The lower ends of the two L-shaped brackets 19 are pivotally connected to the middle portions of the two rear struts 14, respectively. The lower ends of the two side arms of the cart handle 15 are pivotally connected to the middle portions of the two brackets 19, respectively. When the stroller is opened, the locking members 20 slidably mounted at the lower end portions of the both side arms of the stroller handle 15 are engaged with the locking portions of the upper ends of the brackets 19, respectively, to maintain the stroller in an opened state.

The left and right front struts 12 are connected by a front connecting plate 21, and the left and right rear struts 14 are connected by a rear connecting plate 22. The front ends of the side link plates (first and second link plates) 23a and 23b are pivotally connected to the middle portions of the front stays 12, respectively, while the rear ends of the side link plates 23a and 23b are pivotally connected to the lower end portions of the two side arms 15a, 15a of the cart handle 15, respectively, together with the bracket 19. The intermediate portions of the two side connection plates 23a and 23b are connected by an upper connection plate 24.

The stroller is held in an open position for use by engaging locking members 20 provided at the lower end portions of the side arms of the stroller handle 15 with the upper locking portions of the brackets 19. The locking member 20 can be disengaged from the bracket 19 by operating the operating mechanism 25 combined with the cart handle 15. When the locking member 20 is disengaged from the bracket 19, the armrests 16 and the side webs 23a and 23b can be pivoted upwardly through the pivotal connection on the side arms 15a, 15a of the stroller handle 15 so that the front and rear legs 12, 14 can be folded to extend substantially parallel to each other for portability.

The trolley handle 15, the front connection plate 21, the rear connection plate 22 and the upper connection plate 24 all have a central portion and are each provided with two connection points at opposite ends, the connection points at the opposite ends of the central portion lying in two perpendicular planes, respectively. Thus, the stroller handle 15, the front attachment plate 21, the rear attachment plate 22, and the upper attachment plate 24 are all foldable. When the side arms 15a, 15a of the cart handle 15 are moved forward after the front and rear struts 12, 14 are folded to extend substantially parallel, the respective ends of the cart handle 15, the front and rear connection plates 21, 22 and the upper connection plate 24 are bent forward. The stroller can thus be compactly folded into three layers, as shown in fig. 7.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the right side arm 15a of the handle 15, i.e., the left side arm in fig. 1, and also shows the first side link plate 23a, i.e., the left side link plate in fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of those components shown in fig. 2. The rear end of the first side link plate 23a is pivotally connected to the lower end portion of the right side arm 15a of the cart handle 15 together with the L-shaped bracket 19. The hook 26 is pivotally supported at a front end portion of the first side link plate 23 a.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line a-a in fig. 3. The lower ends of the two side arms 15a and 15b of the cart handle 15 are provided with stop plugs 30. The slide 31 is supported on the stop plug 30 and is movable along the axis of the side arm of the trolley handle 15. The pin 32 projects from the slider 31 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the side arm 15a of the trolley handle 15 and is inserted into an axial groove 33 formed in the side arm 15a of the trolley handle 15. The pin 32 is connected to the locking member 20 mounted on the side arm 15a of the trolley handle 15. The slider 31 is connected to the steering mechanism by a first wire 34 extending in the side arm 15a of the cart handle 15 and is urged toward the lower end of the side arm 15a of the cart handle 15 by a spring 31 a.

When the operating mechanism 25 is operated to pull the first wire 34 upward, the slider 31 moves upward against the elastic force of the spring 31a, and the pin 32 moves the locking member 20 upward. The locking member 20 is thereby disengaged from the bracket 19 and the stroller can be folded.

One end of the second wire 35 is connected to the slider 31 fitted in the lower end portion of one of the side arms of the cart handle 15, the second wire 35 extends along the first side connecting plate 23a, and the other end of the second wire 35 is connected to the hook 26. The protector plate 36 is provided on the rear end of the first side link plate 23a and is pivotally connected to the side arm 15a of the cart handle 15 together with the first side link plate 23 a. The guard 36 guides the second wire 35 extending outwardly from the side arm 15a of the cart handle 15 along the first side connecting plate 23 a.

As shown in fig. 2 and 5, the rocker ring 37 is mounted on the upper link plate 24 connected to the first side link plate 23 a. The rocker ring 37 guides the second wire 35. The free end of the second wire 35 is attached to the peripheral portion of the base of the hook 26. The base of the hook 26 is pivotally connected to the inner side wall of the first side web 23 a. The hook 26 carries a hook tip 26a and is urged in a counterclockwise direction by a spring 26b, as shown in fig. 5.

When the operating mechanism 25 is operated to pull the first wire 34 upward, the slider 31 is moved upward, pulling the second wire 35, and the hook 26 is rotated in the pull-out direction (i.e., clockwise direction) against the elastic force of the spring 26b, as shown in fig. 5.

A loop (engaging mechanism) 27 having a loop hole 27a is attached to the front end portion of the second side connecting plate 23b, and the hook tip 26a of the hook 26 can be engaged with the loop hole of the loop.

When the stroller is folded into three layers, the hooks 26 and loops 27 are in facing relation with each other, and the hook tips 26a of the hooks 26 can be inserted into the loop apertures 27a of the loops 27 to hold the stroller in a folded position.

When it is desired to open the stroller, the operating mechanism 25 is operated to pull the first wire 34 upward. The slider 31 is then raised and the locking member 20 is raised accordingly, i.e. the locking member 20 is disengaged from the bracket 19. At the same time, the slider 31 pulls the second wire 35, and the hook 26 rotates in the releasing direction against the elastic force of the spring 26b, so that the folded stroller is released from the folded state. The stroller can thus be opened for use by operating the operating mechanism disposed near the hand.

As is clear from the above description, in the stroller according to the present invention, the operating mechanism is combined with the stroller handle, the hook is connected by the first wire, and the hook is operated by operating the operating mechanism. Thus, the retention mechanism (including the hook and loop) that can hold the stroller in a folded position is mounted in a location that is extremely strong and rigid, and can be disengaged by merely manipulating the operating mechanism disposed near the hand to open the stroller.

A folding stroller in a comparative example will be described with reference to fig. 6-8. Referring to fig. 6, fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a folding stroller in a comparative example, the stroller having two front legs (left and right front legs) 12 and a front wheel 11 thereon, two rear legs (left and right rear legs) 14 and a rear wheel 13 thereon, a generally U-shaped stroller handle 15, two armrests (left and right armrests) 16, and a removable fender 17 extending between the armrests 16. The cart handle 15 has left and right side arms 15a, 15 a. The rear ends of the two armrests 16 are pivotally connected to lower end portions of the left and right side arms of the cart handle 15, respectively. The upper end portions of the two front stays 12 are pivotally connected to the front end portions of the two armrests 16, respectively. The upper end portions of the two rear stays 15 are pivotally connected to the middle portions of the armrests 16, respectively. The lower ends of the two L-shaped brackets 19 are pivotally connected to the middle of the rear support bar 14, respectively. The lower ends of the two side arms 15a, 15a of the cart handle 15 are pivotally connected to the middle of the two brackets 19, respectively. When the stroller is opened, the locking members 20 slidably mounted at the lower end portions of the two side arms of the stroller handle 15 are engaged with locking portions formed in the upper ends of the two brackets 19, respectively, thereby maintaining the stroller in an opened state.

The left and right front struts 12 are connected by a front connecting plate 21, and the left and right rear struts 14 are connected by a rear connecting plate 22. The front ends of the two side link plates 23 are pivotally connected to the middle portions of the two front support rods 12, respectively, and the rear ends of the two side link plates 23 are also pivotally connected to the lower end portions of the two side arms of the cart handle 15, respectively, together with the two brackets 19. The middle parts of the two side connecting plates 23 are connected by an upper connecting plate.

As shown in FIG. 6, the locking members 20 at the lower end portions of the two side arms of the stroller handle 15 engage the locked portions of the two brackets 19 to hold the stroller in an open position for use. The locking member 20 is disengaged from the bracket 19 by operating the operating mechanism 25 combined with the cart handle 15. Thus, the armrests 16 and the side webs 23 can be pivoted upwardly at the pivot joints on the side arms of the stroller handle 15, thereby allowing the front and rear legs 12, 14 to be folded into a substantially parallel extension for carrying the stroller.

The trolley handle 15, the front connecting plate 21, the rear connecting plate 22 and the upper connecting plate (not shown in the figures) all have a central portion, each provided with two connecting points at opposite ends, the connecting points at the opposite ends of the central portion lying in two perpendicular planes. Thus, the cart handle 15, the front connection plate 21, the rear connection plate 22, and the upper connection plate are all foldable. When the two side arms of the stroller handle 15 are moved forward after the front and rear struts 12, 14 are folded to extend substantially parallel, the respective ends of the stroller handle 15, the front and rear connection plates 21, 22 and the upper connection plate can be bent forward. The stroller can thus be compactly folded into three layers, as shown in fig. 7.

A hook is attached to a front end portion of one of the side link plates 23, and a loop (engaging mechanism) 26a with a loop hole 27a into which a hook tip 16a of the hook 26 can be inserted is attached to a front end portion of the other side link plate 23.

When the stroller is folded into three layers, the hooks 26 can be inserted into the loops 27 (as shown in fig. 8) to hold the stroller in the folded position.

Engagement and disengagement of the retention mechanism of the stroller in this comparative example requires the user's hand to disengage the stroller handle 15 and the user's hand to operate the hook. With the stroller of the present invention, the retention mechanism can be engaged or disengaged by the user simply by manipulating the operating mechanism disposed near the hand.

Claims (10)

1. A stroller foldable into three layers, comprising:

a pair of front struts;

a pair of rear struts;

a cart handle provided with two side arms respectively connected to the pair of rear struts; and

first and second side connecting plates for connecting the pair of front support rods and lower end portions of both side arms of the cart handle;

wherein said first side web is provided at a forward end thereof with a hook and said second side web is provided at a forward end thereof with an engagement mechanism engageable with said hook to maintain the stroller in a three-folded condition, a steering mechanism is combined with said stroller handle, said steering mechanism is interlocked with said hook, and said hook is disengageable from said engagement mechanism by operation of said steering mechanism.

2. A three-layered foldable stroller according to claim 1, characterized in that an axially movable slider is mounted on the lower end portion of the handle-side arm on the side of the first side attachment plate, the operating mechanism is connected to the slider by a first wire, and the slider and the hook are connected by a second wire.

3. A three-fold foldable stroller according to claim 2, characterized in that a guard is provided between the first side attachment plate and the lower end portion of the side arm of the stroller handle for guiding a second steel wire to the first side attachment plate, the second steel wire extending along the first side attachment plate.

4. A three-layered foldable stroller according to claim 2, characterized in that a rocker ring is provided adjacent to the hook to guide the second wire to the hook.

5. A three-layered foldable stroller according to claim 4, characterized in that an upper attachment plate extends between the first and second side attachment plates, the rocker ring being mounted on the upper attachment plate.

6. A three-layered foldable stroller according to claim 1, characterized in that said hook is engaged with said engagement mechanism by a hook tip, said hook being pivotally supported on said first side attachment panel.

7. A three-fold foldable stroller according to claim 6, characterized in that the hook is urged by a spring in an engaging direction to engage the engagement mechanism.

8. A three-layered foldable stroller according to claim 2, characterized in that a bracket and a locking member are provided between a pair of said rear legs and said stroller handle, said slider being connected to the locking member on one side of one of said rear legs, and moving said slider disengages said locking member from said bracket.

9. A three-fold foldable stroller according to claim 8, characterized in that the slider and the locking member are interlocked by a pin connected to the slider so as to protrude in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the handle side arm of the stroller.

10. A three-layered foldable stroller according to claim 9,

an axial slot is arranged on the side arm of the cart handle, and the pin moves along the slot.