Child carrier
A child carrier is adapted to be coupled to a stroller frame having a pair of first interlocking members, and includes a child-carrying member; a handle operable to rotate relative to the child-carrying member between a holding position and a rest position; a pair of second interlocking members, each of which is movable between a locking position, where the second interlocking member is adapted to engage a respective one of the first interlocking members of the stroller frame when the handle is disposed at the rest position, and an unlocking position, where the second interlocking member is adapted to disengage the respective one of the first interlocking members when the handle is disposed at the holding position; and a pair of position-controlling mechanisms pivoted to the child-carrying member for controlling operation of the second interlocking members.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a child carrier, more particularly to a child carrier that is adapted to be coupled to a stroller frame, and that includes a handle adapted to be held by a user.
2. Description of the Related Art
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A second conventional child carrier (not shown) differs from the first conventional child carrier 1 in that the second conventional child carrier further includes a pair of second interlocking members (not shown) that are disposed respectively on two opposite sides of the child-carrying member 11, and that are adapted to be coupled respectively to a pair of first interlocking members (not shown) of a stroller frame (not shown). However, since the operation of engaging the second interlocking members with the respective one of the first interlocking members is not related to other operations or components of the second conventional child carrier, the second conventional child carrier is not adequately convenient and user-friendly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTherefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a child carrier including a handle that is operable to pivot relative to a child-carrying member, such that pivotal movement of the handle enables a second interlocking member to engage a first interlocking member of a stroller frame.
According to the present invention, there is provided a child carrier that is adapted to be coupled to a stroller frame having a pair of first interlocking members. The child carrier comprises: a child-carrying member adapted to carry a child therein; a handle including two opposite end portions that are pivoted to the child-carrying member, and operable so as to rotate relative to the child-carrying member between a holding position and a rest position; a pair of second interlocking members connected to the child-carrying member at positions corresponding to the end portions of the handle, respectively, each of the second interlocking members being movable between a locking position, where the second interlocking member is adapted to engage a respective one of the first interlocking members of the stroller frame when the child carrier is mounted on the stroller frame and the handle is disposed at the rest position, thereby securing the child carrier to the stroller frame, and an unlocking position, where the second interlocking member is adapted to disengage the respective one of the first interlocking members when the child carrier is mounted on the stroller frame and the handle is disposed at the holding position, thereby permitting removal of the child carrier from the stroller frame; and a pair of position-controlling mechanisms pivoted to the child-carrying member at positions corresponding to the end portions of the handle, each of the position-controlling mechanisms including a driving member that is rotatable together with the handle from a first angular position, where the driving member is angularly spaced apart from a respective one of the second interlocking members, to a second angular position, where the driving member is in contact with the respective one of the second interlocking members and drives movement of the respective one of the second interlocking members from the unlocking position to the locking position, when the handle is rotated from the holding position to the rest position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSOther features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the preferred embodiment of a child carrier 20 according to this invention is adapted to be coupled to a stroller frame 21 (partially shown in
The child-carrying member 3 includes a pair of opposite side wall units 31, and an interconnecting wall 32 interconnecting the side wall units 31 and cooperating with the side wall units 31 to define a child-disposing space 33 that is adapted to carry a child (not shown) therein. Each of the side wall units 31 has a U-shaped wall part 311 with opposing inner and outer wall portions 312, 313 defining a gap 314 therebetween. The outer wall portion 313 of each of the side wall units 31 is formed with an annular groove 315, a through-hole 316 that is in spatial communication with the annular groove 315, and a hollow shaft 317.
The outer wall portion 313 of the U-shaped wall part 311 of each of the side wall units 31 has outer and inner surrounding wall components 361, 362. The outer surrounding wall component 361 surrounds the annular groove 315 of the outer wall portion 313 of the U-shaped wall part 311 of the respective one of the side wall units 31, and is formed with first and second protrusion-receiving recesses 366, 367 that are disposed outwardly of and that are in spatial communication with the annular groove 315. The inner surrounding wall component 362 surrounds the hollow shaft 317, is surrounded by the outer surrounding wall component 361, and is formed with first and second projection-receiving recesses 368, 369 that are disposed inwardly of and that are in spatial communication with the annular groove 315. The inner surrounding wall component 362 cooperates with the outer surrounding wall component 361 to define the annular groove 315 therebetween.
The handle 4 includes two opposite end portions 42 that are pivoted to the outer wall portion 313 of the U-shaped wall part 311 of a respective one of the side wall units 31 of the child-carrying member 3 and that are each formed with an opening 426, and a holding portion 43 that interconnects the end portions 42. The handle 4 is operable so as to rotate relative to the child-carrying member 3 between a holding position (as shown in
The position-controlling mechanisms 5 are pivoted to the child-carrying member 3 at positions corresponding to the end portions 42 of the handle 4. Each of the position-controlling mechanisms 5 includes a driving member 51 that is rotatable together with the handle 4 from a first angular position (as shown in
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Each of the position-controlling mechanisms 5 further includes an urging member 53 that is disposed in the spring-disposing groove 423 in the cover wall 421 of the respective one of the end portions 42 of the handle 4. In this embodiment, the urging member 53 of each of the position-controlling mechanisms 5 is a compression spring, and is sleeved on the spring-sleeving stud 526 of the operating portion 522 of the control plate 52 of the respective one of the position-controlling mechanisms 5. In addition, the urging member 53 abuts against the control plate 52 and the surrounding wall 424 of the respective one of the end portions 42 of the handle 4 in such a manner that pressing of the pressing portion 523 of the control plate 52 against urging action of the urging member 53 results in movement of the driving member 51 from the first retained position to the first unretained position and movement of the engaging projection 521 from the second retained position to the second unretained position.
In this embodiment, the handle 4 further includes two pins 41, each of which extends through the hollow shaft 317 of the outer wall portion 313 of the U-shaped wall part 311 of a respective one of the side wall units 31 of the child-carrying member 3, through the elongated aperture 525 in the operating portion 522 of the control plate 52 of a respective one of the position-controlling mechanisms 5, and into the cover wall 421 of a respective one of the end portions 42 to support pivotal movement of the handle 4 relative to the child-carrying member 3.
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While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation and equivalent arrangements.
Claims
1. A child carrier adapted to be coupled to a stroller frame that is provided with a pair of first interlocking members, said child carrier comprising:
- a child-carrying member adapted to carry a child therein;
- a handle including two opposite end portions that are pivoted to said child-carrying member, and operable so as to rotate relative to said child-carrying member between a holding position and a rest position;
- a pair of second interlocking members connected to said child-carrying member at positions corresponding to said end portions of said handle, respectively, each of said second interlocking members being movable between a locking position, where said second interlocking member is adapted to engage a respective one of the first interlocking members of the stroller frame when said child carrier is mounted on the stroller frame and said handle is disposed at the rest position, thereby securing said child carrier to the stroller frame, and an unlocking position, where said second interlocking member is adapted to disengage the respective one of the first interlocking members when said child carrier is mounted on the stroller frame and said handle is disposed at the holding position, thereby permitting removal of said child carrier from the stroller frame; and
- a pair of position-controlling mechanisms pivoted to said child-carrying member at positions corresponding to said end portions of said handle, each of said position-controlling mechanisms including a driving member that is rotatable together with said handle from a first angular position, where said driving member is angularly spaced apart from a respective one of said second interlocking members, to a second angular position, where said driving member is in contact with the respective one of said second interlocking members and drives movement of the respective one of said second interlocking members from the unlocking position to the locking position, when said handle is rotated from the holding position to the rest position.
2. The child carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
- said child-carrying member includes a pair of opposite side wall units, each of said side wall units having a U-shaped wall part with opposing inner and outer wall portions that define a gap therebetween, said outer wall portion being formed with an annular groove, and a through-hole that is in spatial communication with said annular groove, said child-carrying member further including two fulcrum-mounting seats that are mounted securely and respectively in said gaps in said side wall units at positions corresponding to said end portions of said handle;
- each of said second interlocking members includes a fulcrum plate that is pivoted to a respective one of said fulcrum-mounting seats, and that has a driven end formed with a driven protrusion, and an engaging end opposite to said driven end and disposed outwardly of said gap in the respective one of said side wall units, said driven protrusion extending through said through-hole and into said annular groove in the respective one of said side wall units when said driving member of the respective one of said position-controlling mechanisms is disposed at the second angular position; and
- said driving member of each of said position-controlling mechanisms is received in said annular groove during movement between the first and second annular positions,
- said driving member of each of said position-controlling mechanisms being in contact with said driven protrusion of the respective one of said second interlocking members and driving said driven protrusion out of said annular groove in the respective one of said side wall units when said driving member is disposed at the second angular position, resulting in pivotal movement of said fulcrum plate of the respective one of said second interlocking members relative to the respective one of said fulcrum-mounting seats, such that said engaging end of said fulcrum plate engages the respective one of the first interlocking members of the stroller frame.
3. The child carrier as claimed in claim 2, wherein:
- each of said position-controlling mechanisms further includes a control plate pivoted to said child-carrying member, connected to said handle, and formed with a driving protrusion that protrudes therefrom and that defines said driving member; and
- said outer wall portion of said U-shaped wall part of each of said side wall units of said child-carrying member has an outer surrounding wall component that surrounds said annular groove and that is formed with first and second protrusion-receiving recesses around said annular groove,
- when said driving protrusion is disposed at a selected one of the first and second angular positions, said driving protrusion is movable between a first unretained position, where said driving protrusion is received in said annular groove in the vicinity of a respective one of said first and second protrusion-receiving recesses, and a first retained position, where said driving protrusion is received in the respective one of said first and second protrusion-receiving recesses, thereby securing said handle at a respective one of the holding and rest positions.
4. The child carrier as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said position-controlling mechanisms further includes an urging member abutting against said control plate and said handle in such a manner that pressing of said control plate against urging action of said urging member results in movement of said driving protrusion from the first retained position to the first unretained position.
5. The child carrier as claimed in claim 4, wherein:
- said handle includes a holding portion that interconnects said end portions, each of said end portions of said handle being formed with an opening; and
- said control plate of each of said position-controlling mechanisms includes an operating portion disposed between the respective one of said end portions of said handle and said outer surrounding wall component of said outer wall portion of said U-shaped wall part of a respective one of said side wall units, and having said driving protrusion formed thereon, and a pressing portion extending from said operating portion through said opening in the respective one of said end portions of said handle for pressing of said control plate against urging action of said urging member.
6. The child carrier as claimed in claim 5, wherein:
- each of said end portions includes a cover wall for covering said annular groove in the respective one of said side wall units, a pivot protrusion extending from said cover wall toward said annular groove, and a surrounding wall that extends transversely from a periphery of said cover wall and that is formed with a notch to configure said end portion with said opening, said cover wall being formed with a spring-disposing groove for receiving said urging member of the respective one of said position-controlling mechanisms therein; and
- said operating portion of said control plate of each of said position-controlling mechanisms is further formed with a pivot post defining a pivot hole disposed distal from said pressing portion of said control plate for receiving said pivot protrusion of the respective one of said end portions of said handle therein, so as to permit pivotal movement of said control plate relative to said handle and said child-carrying member.
7. The child carrier as claimed in claim 3, wherein:
- said outer wall portion of said U-shaped wall part of each of said side wall units further has a hollow shaft; and
- said handle further has two pins, each of which extends through said cover wall of a respective one of said end portions of said handle and said control plate of a respective one of said position-controlling mechanisms and into said hollow shaft of said outer wall portion of said U-shaped wall part of a respective one of said side wall units to permit pivotal movement of said handle relative to said child-carrying member.
8. The child carrier as claimed in claim 3, wherein:
- said control plate of each of said position-controlling mechanisms is further formed with an engaging projection spaced apart from said driving protrusion; and
- said outer wall portion of said U-shaped wall part of each of said side wall units of said child-carrying member further has an inner surrounding wall component that is surrounded by said outer surrounding wall component, that cooperates with said outer surrounding wall component to define said annular groove therebetween, and that is formed with first and second projection-receiving recesses surrounded by said annular groove,
- when said driving protrusion of each of said position-controlling mechanisms is disposed at the first unretained position, said engaging projection of the respective one of said position-controlling mechanisms is disposed at a second unretained position, where said engaging projection is received in said annular groove in the respective one of said side wall units,
- when said driving protrusion of each of said position-controlling mechanisms is disposed at the first retained position and at a selected one of the first and second angular positions, said engaging projection of the respective one of said position-controlling mechanisms is disposed at a second retained position, where said engaging projection is received in a respective one of said first and second projection-receiving recesses, thereby securing said handle at a respective one of the holding and rest positions.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 23, 2005
Publication Date: May 24, 2007
Inventor: Red Lan (Hsichih)
Application Number: 11/286,032
International Classification: A47C 1/08 (20060101);