Foldable Stroller Having Discrete Handlebar
A stroller is provided having a stroller frame supported by front and rear wheels. The frame includes a latch assembly that is movable between a locked and an unlocked position. When in the locked position, the latch assembly prevents the frame from being folded. When in the unlocked position, the latch assembly allows the frame to be folded. The frame is connected to an ergonomically friendly handlebar having discrete outer ends. The handlebar includes a latch release handle that is operably connected to the latch assembly.
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This application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 60/784,103 filed Mar. 20, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in its entirety herein.
BACKGROUND1. Field of the Disclosure
The present invention relates to strollers for children, in particular strollers that are easily folded to a stored, compact configuration.
2. Description of Related Art
Well-designed strollers should be sturdy and balanced. It should afford the child passenger safe and comfortable transport. The adult user should find the stroller easy to maneuver, easy to fold and unfold, and easy to handle when folded. It should have features that make it versatile and convenient. And it should be simple in design, rugged and reliable. Foldable strollers are known that address some of these criteria.
A conventional folding stroller has a plurality of wheels supporting an articulated frame that has two spaced front legs, two spaced rear legs, a pair of push arms, and a crossbar connected at its laterally outer ends to the push arms. The crossbar can be provided with a pair of laterally spaced gripping surfaces that can be engaged by a user when driving the stroller, and a handle assembly disposed between the gripping surfaces. The stroller further includes a pair of fold latches associated with the push arms that operate to lock the stroller frame in the erect (open) position and to unlock the stroller frame, thereby allowing the frame to fold to a closed position.
A cable or other motion transfer mechanism is disposed within the stroller frame, and is connected between the handle assembly and the fold latches. Accordingly, a user can actuate (typically rotate) the handle, which converts the rotational motion and applies a linear force to the cable to lock and release the fold latches, thereby permitting the stroller to fold and unfold.
Unfortunately, the crossbar fails to provide an ergonomically friendly gripping surface for the user. For instance, the crossbar forms part of the stroller frame, and therefore is not height adjustable. It is therefore desirable to provide an ergonomically friendly handle assembly that is attached to the stroller frame that allows the user to impart directional forces to the stroller while also providing a release handle that can be actuated by the user with one hand to facilitate folding of the stroller.
SUMMARYA stroller is foldable between an open position and a folded position. The stroller includes a frame supported by front and rear wheels. The frame includes a latch assembly movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. When in the locked position, the latch assembly prevents the frame from being folded, and when in the unlocked position, the latch assembly allows the frame to be folded. A handlebar is attached to the frame. The handlebar has outer terminal ends. The handlebar includes a latch release handle. A motion transfer mechanism is operably connected between the latch release handle and the latch assembly. Movement of the latch release handle causes the motion transfer mechanism to move the latch assembly to the unlocked position.
It should be appreciated that the foregoing and other aspects of the invention will appear from the following description. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof, and in which there is shown by way of illustration, and not limitation, preferred embodiments of the invention. Such embodiments do not necessarily represent the full scope of the invention, and reference must therefore be made to the claims herein for interpreting the full scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSReference is made to the following drawings in which like reference numerals are intended to identify like elements throughout, and in which:
Referring to
The stroller 20 can further include one or more accessories. For instance, For instance, front and rear canopies 32 and 34 are provided in juxtaposition with the front and rear child seats 28 and 30, respectively. Additionally, a parent console 36 is provided adjacent the handlebar 27, and can include, for instance, any combination of a tray and one or more cup holders. A basket 40 can be provided below the rear child seat 30 for the storage and transportation of miscellaneous items as desired.
In the embodiment illustrated in
A side support strut 54 is pivotally connected to each leg 50, and extends substantially vertically upward from the leg 50. Specifically, each strut 54 are spaced from the front and rear ends of the legs 50, and are connected to a middle portion of the legs 50. Each strut 54 can include a shock absorbing assembly 55 constructed in the usual manner. The upper ends of each strut 54 are pivotally connected to an outer surface of a corresponding foldable latch assembly 56. The latch assembly 56 further receives the rear terminal ends of a U-shaped support bar 58.
The support bar 58 includes a pair of laterally spaced side arms 60 that provide the front legs of the frame 22. The front legs 60 are connected at their forward ends to a U-shaped section 61, which supports the footrest 29. The side arms 60 extend laterally outboard of the canopy 32 and the armrests 31, and are pivotally connected to the outer surface of the armrests 31 substantially midway between the front and rear ends of the side arms 60 at pivot joint 62. Pivot joint 62 is further disposed substantially vertically midway up the armrest 31. A linkage 64 connects each corresponding leg 50 to the corresponding armrest 31. Specifically, an upper pivot joint 67 connects the upper end of the linkage 64 to the lower end of the corresponding armrest 31. Pivot joint 67 is thus disposed below (and slightly forward of) pivot 62. A lower pivot joint 63 connects the lower end of the linkage 64 to the leg 50 at a location that is spaced forward with respect to the strut 54. A pivot joint 65 pivotally connects the front end of each leg 50 to the support bar 58 via a flange 69 that extends down from the support bar 58.
The front legs 60 and base legs 50 can have cross-sections that are oblong or oval, for instance elliptical. Such sections have a stronger section modulus as compared to round tubing having the same cross-sectional area, thus enhancing vertical load strength and imparting a robust appearance onto the stroller 20. The front legs 60 and the base legs 50 can also be about the same length, so that they fold compactly onto each other. The base legs 50 can bow upwardly such that its convex side faces up, thus providing greater ground clearance between the front and the rear wheels than a straight leg. The front legs 60 can also be curved similar to the curvature of base legs 50, thereby allowing the front legs 60 to compactly nest with legs 50 when the stroller 20 is folded.
Referring also to
As illustrated in
Referring now also to
While one exemplary stroller constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention has been illustrated and described with respect to
Certain differences of the stroller 120 with respect to the stroller 20 will now be described with reference to
While certain other differences may exist, the fundamental operation of the strollers 20 and 120 are substantially similar. For instance, referring also to
Referring now to
The stroller frame 22 includes a motion transfer mechanism 200 between the latch release grip 77 and the latch assemblies 56. In the embodiment illustrated in
Cable assembly 201 is connected at its proximal end to the latch release handle 76, and extends into the stanchion toward the push arm 66. The cable assembly is installed by inserting a tool (not shown) into the open outer end of the handlebar 27. The tool includes an elongated handle and an angled wall at the end of the handle. The tool is inserted such that the wall is placed immediately before the stanchion 72. As the cable assembly 201 is inserted through the handlebar 27, the wall directs the cable assembly down into the stanchion 72. The cable assembly 201 extends down the side arm 68 of the push arm 66, and is connected at its distal end to the latch assembly 56 (see
It should be appreciated that the motion transfer mechanism 201 illustrated and described with reference to
The latch release handle 76 will now be described with reference to
A pair of laterally spaced helical grooves 246 and 248 extends through the upper half shell 238 of the inner shell 236. The grooves 246 and 248 are elongated in a direction that is sloped with respect to the forward-rearward direction, and thus the outer ends of the grooves are laterally offset from each other. Furthermore the adjacent grooves 246 and 248 are sloped equally and directionally opposite each other. The lower half shell 240 of the inner shell 236 also includes grooves 246′ and 248′, which are operatively aligned with grooves 246 and 248.
A pair of laterally elongated and laterally spaced slots 250 and 252 extends through the hub 244. Each slot 250 and 252 receives corresponding pins 254 and 256 that extend vertically through the hub 244. The pins 254 and 256 are thus configured for lateral movement within their corresponding slots 250 and 252. Each pin 254 and 256 are connected to the cables 202 and 206, respectively (not shown). The pins 254 and 2156 thus extend through the corresponding slots 250 and 252, and further extend through the corresponding grooves 246 and 246′, and 248 and 248′, respectively.
A pair of end caps 258 is provided that can be pressure fit in the laterally outer ends of the hub 244 and can interlock or otherwise attach to the hub 244 to prevent circumferential and axial slippage between the end cap 258 and the hub 244. In one aspect of the present invention, the end caps 258 can be mounted to handlebar 27 via a screw or other attachment mechanism that extends through apertures 259 so that the end caps remain stationary during operation, and thus ensure that the outer housing 234 rotates with respect to the stationary hub 244. Each cable 202 and 206 extends through the end caps 258 and is connected to the respective pins 254 and 256.
The grooves 246 and 246′ cooperate with pin 254, and grooves 248 and 248′ cooperate with pin 256. Specifically, grooves 246 and 246′ are constructed such that the pin 254 moves laterally along the length of the slot 250 as the grooves 246 and 246′ rotate. As the handle 76 is rotated by an operator, the rotation of the handle causes the grooves 246 and 322 to slide pin 254 axially along the length of the slot 250. Accordingly, the handle 76 converts rotational motion into linear motion and imparts the linear motion onto the cables 202 and 206. When the pin 254 moves along the axial length of tube 244, pin 254 pulls the cable 202 along with it. The motion and force of the wire is then used to release the corresponding latch assembly 56, as is described in more detail below. In a similar manner, grooves 248 and 248′ cooperate with pin 256 to slide the pin 256 along slot 252 when the moving member is rotated, thus causing the cable 206 to release the corresponding latch assembly 56.
Referring now to
During operation, the spring 268 biases the latch 270 into the pocket 272. As illustrated in
The construction and operation of the latch assembly 56 will now be described with reference to
The outer housing 300 includes a lower longitudinally elongated cavity 308 and a pair of laterally spaced vertical flanges 310 extending up from the cavity 308. A first tube 304, which can be attached to the side arm 68 of push arm 66, or could be integrally connected to the side arm 68, is received inside the cavity 308 of the outer housing 300. The inner housing 302 includes a body 307 sized to fit between the vertical flanges 310. The housing body 307 defines a longitudinally elongated socket 312 that generally closely conforms to the profile of the upper end of side arm 60. The socket 312 receives a second tube 306, which can be attached to the side arm 60 of support arm 58, or could be integrally connected to the side arm 60. One end of the inner housing 302 that interfaces with the outer housing 300 includes a pivot portion 314 having a centrally disposed rivet hole 316 extending therethrough and aligned with a pair of aligned rivet holes 320 (one shown) extending laterally through the upper ends of the flanges 310 of outer housing 300. The rivet holes 316 and 320 define a pivot axis 318. When the latch assembly 56 is unlocked, the inner and outer housings 300 and 302 are pivotable with respect to each other about the pivot axis 318.
The upper end of the side arm 60 necks down so that it fits within the latch assembly 56.
The inner housing 302 further includes a receiver 327 disposed below socket 312. The receiver 327 has a mouth 330 that defines inwardly extending opening having an outer lip 332. The mouth 330 is aligned with the lower longitudinally elongated cavity 308 of outer housing 300. A retractable plunger 334 defines one end that is housed in the cavity 308 of outer housing 300. The other end of the plunger 334 is received by the lip 332 and mouth 330 of inner housing 302. The plunger 334 can be molded of acetal resin, i.e., polyoxymethylene, or “POM.” The plunger 334 is substantially shrouded by latch housings 300 and 302 so as to be protected from dust and dirt. Alternatively, the plunger 334 could be sized and shaped to nest within tube 304 within the latch assembly 56.
The plunger 334 slides within the cavity 308, guided by the end of the tube 304 that it surrounds. The tube 304 is anchored to outer housing 300 by a rivet 336 through hole 341 formed in tube 304 and further through a hole 339 extending through outer housing 300. The rivet 336 further passes through a pair of elongated slots 338 in the sides of plunger 334. The engagement between the rivet 336 and slots 338 guides and limits the movement of the plunger 334 within the latch assembly 56. A helical spring 340, captured between the plunger 334 and a shoulder 342 (or alternatively a rivet) disposed within cavity 308, biases the plunger 334 outward, toward the receiver 327.
The housing 302-facing end 344 of the plunger 334 has a sloped face with a hole 346 and a notched cable-and-ball anchoring recess 348. The cable 202 extends through the handle from latch release handle 76 as described. The cable 202 extends through the interior of plunger 334 and through hole 346, and has a ball end 350 anchored in recess 348.
Referring now to
When the stroller 20 is to be opened from the folded position, tube 304 is rotated relative to tube 306 toward the position illustrated in
During operation, the stroller 20 is thus folded by first translating the actuator 274 to the unlocked position and rotating the latch release handle 76, thereby causing the cable 202 to retract the plunger 334 until its distal end clears lip 332. The tube 304 and side arm 68 are then able to pivot, which facilitates collapsing of the stroller 20. When the stroller 20 is unfolded, the tip of the plunger 334 clears the lip 332 and the spring forces the plunger 334 into the mouth 330 to lock the frame in the open position. The handle 76 is returned to its neutral position under the assistance of the force of spring 326.
The above has been described as a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It will occur to those that practice the art that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In order to apprise the public of the various embodiments that may fall within the scope of the invention, the following claims are made.
Claims
1. A stroller, foldable between an open position and a folded position, comprising:
- a frame supported by front and rear wheels, the frame including a latch assembly movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein when in the locked position the latch assembly prevents the frame from being folded, and when in the unlocked position, the latch assembly allows the frame to be folded;
- a handlebar attached to the frame, the handlebar having outer terminal ends and including a latch release handle;
- a motion transfer mechanism operably coupling the latch release handle and the latch assembly,
- wherein movement of the latch release handle causes the motion transfer mechanism to move the latch assembly to the unlocked position.
2. The stroller as recited in claim 1, wherein the handlebar extends laterally and the terminal ends of the handlebar comprise outer lateral ends.
3. The stroller as recited in claim 2, wherein the handlebar includes a pair of auxiliary grips extending out from the lateral ends.
4. The stroller as recited in claim 3, wherein the auxiliary grips extend substantially perpendicular with respect to the lateral ends.
5. The stroller as recited in claim 4, wherein the auxiliary grips are rotatable about the lateral ends.
6. The stroller as recited in claim 1, wherein a stanchion connects the handlebar to the stroller frame.
7. The stroller as recited in claim 6, wherein the motion transfer mechanism comprises a cable assembly connected between the latch release handle and latch assembly.
8. The stroller as recited in claim 7, wherein the cable assembly extends through the stanchion and stroller frame.
9. The stroller as recited in claim 7, wherein the cable assembly comprises a cable surrounded by an outer sheath.
10. The stroller as recited in claim 9, wherein the stroller frame comprises at least one directional member directing the cable assembly inside the frame.
11. The stroller as recited in claim 9, wherein the directional member comprises a curved channel disposed in the stanchion.
12. The stroller as recited in claim 9, wherein the directional member comprises a deflection pin disposed in the handlebar.
13. The stroller as recited in claim 7, wherein the cable assembly comprises a cable extending through the frame operably coupled to at least one pulley disposed in the frame.
14. The stroller as recited in claim 1, wherein the latch release handle is rotatable and further comprises a motion transfer member that converts the radial motion of the handle to linear motion imparted onto the motion transfer mechanism.
15. A stroller, foldable between an open position and a folded position, comprising:
- a frame including an elongated bottom member having a front portion in proximity to a front wheel and a rear portion in proximity to a rear wheel; a front leg pivotally to the front portion of the bottom member; a push arm having a lower end in proximity to the upper end of the front leg; a support strut pivotally connected to the bottom member; and a latch assembly receiving the front leg, the push arm, and the support strut, the latch assembly movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein when in the locked position the latch assembly prevents the frame from being folded, and when in the unlocked position, the latch assembly allows the frame to be folded;
- a handlebar attached to the frame, the handlebar having outer terminal ends, wherein the handlebar includes a latch release handle; and
- a motion transfer mechanism operably connected between the latch release handle and the latch assembly,
- wherein movement of the latch release handle causes the motion transfer mechanism to move the latch assembly to the unlocked position.
16. The stroller as recited in claim 15, further comprising at least one stanchion connecting the handlebar to the push arm.
17. The stroller as recited in claim 15, wherein the motion transfer mechanism extends through the stanchion and push arm.
18. The stroller as recited in claim 15, wherein radial movement of the latch release handle causes the cable to translate which, in turn, unlocks the latch assembly.
19. A stroller, foldable between an open position and a folded position, comprising:
- a frame including a first and second spaced bottom member connected between a front wheel and a rear wheel; a first and second latch assembly; a first and second front leg pivotally connected to the first and second bottom member, respectively, at one end, and connected to the first and second latch assembly, respectively, at an opposing end; at least one push arm having a first and second side arm connected to the first and second latch assembly, respectively; and a first and second support strut pivotally connected to the first and second bottom members, respectively, at one end, and connected to the first and second latch assembly, respectively, at an opposing end;
- a handlebar attached to the frame via a first and second stanchions, the handlebar having outer terminal ends, wherein the handlebar includes a latch release handle;
- a motion transfer mechanism operably connected between the latch release handle and the first and second latch, wherein the motion transfer mechanism extends through the first and second stanchions and the first and second push arms,
- wherein movement of the latch release handle causes the motion transfer mechanism to move the latch assemblies from a locked position whereby the latch assemblies prevent the frame from being folded, to an unlocked position whereby the latch assembly allows the frame to be folded.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 20, 2007
Publication Date: Oct 4, 2007
Applicant: Graco Children's Products Inc. (Exton, PA)
Inventors: Robert Pike (Reading, PA), Michael Dotsey (Pottstown, PA), Roy Dean (Pottstown, PA), Andrew Serbinski (Annandale, NJ)
Application Number: 11/688,847
International Classification: B62B 7/00 (20060101);