Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02296903 2000-O1-19
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
STROLLER
This application is a divisional of Canadian patent application Serial
No. 2,161,829, filed on 31 October 1995.
This invention relates to an adjustable child support apparatus for
use with a foldable stroller. The invention is preferably used with a three-
wheeled stroller.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are a variety of types of conventional three-wheeled
collapsible strollers known. For example, U.S. Patent No. 3,881,739 to Laune
describes a child's stroller having three wheels of a relatively small size,
as are
usually associated with a conventional stroller. The front wheel is of a
steerable,
caster type and has a brake and is lockable in a forward-only orientation. The
stroller frame comprises of a pair of horizontal side elements pivoted on each
other at their front ends and having upright members at their rear ends. The
front ends meet at a front pivot point with articulated connections, which
allow
the side elements and upright members to collapse upon each other to fold the
stroller, reducing the space occupied by the stroller. Footrests are provided
on
the front tubes below the seat and above and behind the front wheel.
A disadvantage of the stroller described in the patent to Laune is
that it is limited to use only at relatively low speeds and only on relatively
smooth
surfaces by the small wheel diameters -- a stroller with small wheels and
tires is
difficult to manoeuver on bumpy surfaces. Thus, a conventional small-wheeled
stroller is not well suited to some surfaces commonly encountered by users of
strollers, such as bumpy pavement, grass, or packed dirt.
Another disadvantage of this stroller is that although the stroller
folds longitudinally, bringing the two rear wheels in close proximity to each
other,
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this fold produces a lengthy and cumbersome end product -- the stroller in its
folded state is necessarily at least as long as its wheelbase.
Accordingly, there exists a need both for a stroller that is operable
on slightly uneven or bumpy surfaces and a fold for such a stroller that will
yield
a folded configuration which is compact for easy storage and/or portability.
Various bar linkages and fold patterns for strollers are known.
Also, various latches for latching a folding stroller frame in a fully
unfolded
operative position are known. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,415,180 to
Payne, Jr. illustrates a folding stroller utilizing a latch member which is
pivotally
connected to the first frame member and biased to a position wherein it
embraces an end of a second member. The latch member may be released by
finger pressure pivoting the latch member against the spring bias. The latch
member has a cam surface thereon, so that the end of the second member may
contact the cam surface and pivot the latch member whereby the second
member will be snapped into a latched position without finger manipulation.
The
latch member pivots around a generally horizontal axis that is perpendicular
to
the tube axis.
The conventional four-wheeled stroller disclosed in the patent to
Payne, Jr. also suffers from the disadvantage that it is limited for use only
on
relatively smooth surfaces due to the small wheel diameters. This stroller
also
is not suitable for use on the uneven or bumpy surfaces commonly encountered
by users of strollers.
Another type of latch member for latching first and second frame
members into a parallel, unfolded position is known in which the latch is
mounted
to and rotates about the longitudinal axis of one frame member. The latch has
a resilient portion defining a groove that snaps partially around and onto the
other frame member, to latch the frame members together.
A disadvantage of this design is that the latch must be manually
rotated and engaged and rotated and disengaged whenever the user wishes to
fold or unfold the stroller frame. Thus, When unfolding the frame (the latch
is
disengaged when the frame is folded), the latch must be manually engaged once
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the stroller is in its usable, unfolded configuration. Accordingly, this type
of latch
suffers from the disadvantage that the user must manually engage the latch by
rotating it each time the stroller is unfolded.
U.S. Patent No. 5,188,389 to Baechler et al. discloses a foldable
three-wheeled "all-terrain" baby stroller of the type commonly referred to as
a
"jogging stroller". This stroller is better equipped to accommodate higher
speeds
and bumpy or uneven surfaces than a small-wheeled conventional stroller due
to the utilization of large wheels.
A disadvantage of the stroller disclosed in the Baechler et al. patent
is that the lower frame bars connecting the front and rear wheels do not fold -
-
therefore even when folded the stroller is necessarily at least as long as its
wheel
base. Yet another drawback to the design is the absence of a directionally
pivoting front wheel, which makes the simple task of turning the stroller an
arduous one -- the operator must push down on the handle to raise the front
wheel off the ground to change direction.
Another "jogging stroller" is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,029,891
to Jacobs. The stroller includes three large-diameter wheels arranged in a
tricycle configuration, a foldable frame to which the wheels are attached, and
an
infant holder made from flexible material supported by the frame. The frame
includes a pivotally connected upper portion and a lower portion, whereby the
portions may be folded against one another reducing the space occupied by the
stroller. The front wheel is centrally located directly in front of the child.
A floor
panel intended for a footrest is mounted to the front tubes and extends
forward
from under the child's seat and a fender covering the back side of the front
wheel
is attached to the floor panel and front axle.
A disadvantage of the stroller disclosed in the Jacobs patent is that
this configuration places the occupant's legs mostly or completely behind the
front wheel, again elongating the overall length of the stroller. Further, the
Jacobs patent depicts that the lower frame bars connecting the front and rear
wheels do not fold -- therefore once again even when folded the stroller is
necessarily at least as long as its wheel base, as in the Laune and Baechler
et
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al patents. Also, the provision of a floor pane! and a separate fender
increases the
weight and complexity of the stroller as compared to a single unitary
footresUfender
member. Another drawback in the stroller of the Jacobs patent is the
implementation of
a non-pivoting front wheel, again making steering cumbersome and difficult, as
in the
stroller disclosed in the Baechler et al. patent.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a stroller combining the advantages of
a "jogging stroller"-- the ability to traverse somewhat bumpy and/or uneven
terrain --
with the advantages of a conventional stroller -- ease of manoeuverability,
compactness
and convenient and compact foldability.
Reclining seats for strollers are also known. For example, U.S. Patent No.
4,836,573 to Gebhard discloses an apparatus for supporting a child in a fully
reclining
(horizontal) position and in a sitting (generally upright) position. The child
support is
pivotable from the first, generally horizontal position for use as a bassinet
to the second,
generally upright or slightly titled position for use as a forward-facing
stroller seat. In the
first configuration, a first planar member acts as a whole body support for a
child to
provide a bassinet or baby carriage configuration. In the second
configuration, the first
planar member is provided as a back rest and a second planar member is
provided as a
seat.
There exists a need for a reclining infant seat or support which includes
webs on either side of the seat to provide protection from the elements but
wherein at
least a portion of these webs remain taut in both the upright and reclining
positions to
minimize flapping.
Another seat back recline is described as U.S. Patent No. 4,462,607 to
Nakao et aL, in which the upper back section of a seating platform is
suspended from
the handle by an adjustable loop.
Wheel brakes employing a lever partially mounted to the stroller frame and
having a pin that engages radial teeth in the wheel to brake the wheel
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when the lever is depressed are also known, as illustrated in U.S. Patent No.
5,257,799 to Cone et al.
A disadvantage of the wheel brake of the type shown in the Cone
et al. patent is that the brake must be manually set or released -- since it
does
not automatically set when the stroller is folded, the user typically must set
the
brake when unfolding the stroller if it has not been set before folding.
Seat belt assemblies for child and infant seats are also known. For
example, U.S. Patent No. 4,962,965 to Glover discloses a seat belt assembly
for
use in a high chair comprising a pair of generally horizontally extending
waist
straps each coupled at one end to a portion of the high chair seat, and having
a buckle part at the other end, a crotch strap permanently secured to a front
central extent of the seat portion and having a free front end, and a main
buckle
permanently attached to the free end of the crotch strap with the main buckle
also having a pair of attachment mechanisms for removably receiving the buckle
parts of the ends of the waist straps.
Accordingly, there is a need for a three-wheeled collapsible stroller
which can be used on terrain that is more bumpy or uneven than the smooth
terrain suitable for a conventional small-wheeled stroller, but that is also
more
manoeuvrable than a conventional three-wheeled "jogging stroller".
Furthermore, there is a need for such a stroller to be conveniently
collapsible into
a compact form for transportation and storage. Additionally, there is a need
for
a three wheeled stroller seat back that is quickly and conveniently adjustable
between reclined and upright seating positions. Moreover, there is a need for
a brake mechanism for the rear wheels of a folding stroller that automatically
sets the brakes of the rear wheels when the stroller is fully folded.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides an adjustable child support apparatus that
is quickly and conveniently adjustable between reclined and upright seating
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positions, and that is preferably capable of remaining in the same position
when
unfolded and folded.
In one aspect the invention provides an apparatus for adjusting the
inclination of a child support member comprising a first frame portion; a
second
frame portion spaced apart from the first frame portion; a first child support
member; a second child support member moveable with respect to the first child
support member between an upright position and a reclined position; a first
flexible web extending between the first frame portion and the second child
support member, the first web having a first extended configuration in which
the
second child support member is suspended in the reclined position and the
first
web having a second, foreshortened configuration in which the second child
support member is suspended in the upright position; a second flexible web
extending between the second frame portion and the second child support
member, the second web having a first extended configuration in which the
second child support member is suspended in the reclined position and the
second web having a second, foreshortened configuration in which the second
child support member is suspended in the upright configuration; and means
coupled to the first and second flexible webs for selectively foreshortening
the
webs to the foreshortened configuration to maintain the second child support
member in the upright position.
In another aspect, the invention provides an adjustable child
support comprising a first frame portion; a second frame portion spaced apart
from the first frame portion; a first child support member; a second child
support
member wherein the angle of inclination of the second child support member
relative to the first child support member can be adjusted; a first flexible
web
extending between the first frame portion and the second frame portion and
integrally formed with the second child support member wherein when the first
flexible web is in a fully extended configuration the second child support
member
is positioned in a first inclined position relative to the first child support
member
and wherein the first flexible web provides the sole means for supporting the
second child support member in the first inclined position; a second flexible
web
CA 02296903 2000-O1-19
having a first end and a second end extending between the first frame portion
and the second frame portion wherein when the first end is connected to the
second end the first flexible web is in a foreshortened configuration, the
second
child support member is fully supported by the second flexible web, and the
second child support member is positioned in a second, more upright inclined
position relative to the first child support member and wherein when the first
end
is disconnected from the second end, the second child support member is fully
supported by the first flexible web in the first inclined position; and means
for
connecting the first end and the second end of the second flexible web.
In another aspect, the invention provides apparatus for adjusting
the degree of recline of a child seating surface, comprising a support frame;
a
child support member having a child supporting surtace on a front face
thereof,
a rear surface on an opposite, rear face thereof, and opposed first and second
side edges and having a predefined width; a first flexible web having an upper
end coupled to the support frame, a lower end coupled to the first side edge
of
the child support member, and a first attachment point disposed between the
upper and lower ends and dividing the first flexible web into an upper portion
between the first attachment point and the upper end and a lower portion
between the first attachment point and the lower end; a first flexible member
depending from the first flexible web at the first attachment point and having
a
first connector disposed at the opposite end thereof; a second flexible web
having an upper end coupled to the support frame, a lower end coupled to the
second side edge of the child support member, and a second attachment point
disposed between the upper and lower ends and dividing the second flexible
web into an upper portion between the second attachment point and the upper
end and a lower portion between the attachment second point and the lower
end; and a second flexible member depending from the second flexible web at
the second attachment point and having a second connector disposed at the
opposite end thereof, the second connector being selectively coupleable with
the
first connector; the upper and lower portions of tMe webs and the width of the
child support member having a first combined length and the upper portions of
CA 02296903 2003-12-30
8
the webs and the first and second flexible members having a second combined
length
less than the first combined length; the child support member being
positionable in a
lower position in which the first and second connectors are uncoupled and the
child
support member is suspended from the support frame by the side edges via the
upper
and lower portions of the webs and in an upper position in which the first and
second
connectors are coupled behind the rear surface ofthe child support member and
the
child support member is suspended from the frame support by the upper portions
of the
webs and by the first and second flexible members.
In another aspect, the invention provides a reclining seat back assembly
wherein the means for foreshortening the webs comprises a first web extension
having
one end attached to a medial portion of the first web and having a second end
with a
first fastener attached thereto; and a second web extension attached at one
end to a
medial portion of the second web and having another end with a second fastener
attached thereto, wherein the first and second fasteners are releasably
connectable to
each other and wherein the first and second fasteners may be connected behind
the
seat back so that the seat back is suspended by a foreshortened portion of the
first and
second webs and by the web extensions, to pull the seat back closer to the
frame
portions into the second position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon
reading the following detailed description and upon referring to the drawings
in which:
Fig. 1 A is a perspective view of the stroller.
Fig. 1 B is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the stroller
with an access flap opened.
Fig. 1 C is a perspective view of the frame of the stroller with the seat
assembly removed.
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Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the frame of the stroller with the seat
assembly removed.
Fig. 3A is a side view of the front end of the stroller.
Figs. 3B and 3C are bottom views of the front end of the stroller.
Fig. 4A is a perspective view of the seat back in an upright position.
Fig. 4B is a perspective view of the seat back in a reclined position.
Fig. 5A is a side partially cutaway/sectional view of an automatically
latching side latch mechanism.
Fig. 5B is an end view of the side latch mechanism in a locked
position.
Fig. 5C is an end view of the side latch mechanism in an open
unlocked position.
Fig. 5D is a side cutaway/sectional view of the automatically-
latching side latch mechanism.
Figs. 6A and 6B are side and top views, respectively, of the side
hinge and side latch mechanism in a partially folded angled position.
Figs. 6C and 6D are side and bottom views, respectively, of the
side hinge and side latch mechanism in an intermediate partially folded angled
position.
Figs. 6E and 6F are side and bottom views, respectively, of the
side hinge and side latch mechanism in a completely unfolded and locked
position.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the child restraint seatbelt.
Figs. 8A and 8B are side and top views, respectively, of a part of
the stroller in the fully folded position.
Fig. 8C is a side view of the part of the stroller shown in Fig. 8A in
a nearly fully folded position.
Fig. 9 is a rear view of the side hinge in the fully folded position.
Figs. 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E and 10F are schematic side views
representing the folding sequence of the stroller frame.
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Figs. 11A and 11 B are front and rear views of the fabric seating
assembly removed from the stroller frame and laid generally flat.
While the invention will be described in conjunction with illustrated
embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the
invention to
such embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives,
modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope
of
the invention as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred
embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
1. Overall Stroller Configuration
The overall stroller configuration will now be described. Several of
the features described briefly under this heading are described in more detail
below under separate headings.
As shown in Figs. 1 A, 1 B, 1 C and 2 the stroller generally comprises
a foldable frame including a handle tube 20, front tubes 40, 45, a rear
support
tube 30, and two seat tubes 50, 60. (The handle tube 20 may include a padded
grip portion 770.) A front fork assembly 110 supports a front wheel assembly
320 which is selectively lockable into a straight-ahead position and
releasable
to pivot in a caster-type fashion. Two rear axle mounting brackets 280, 290
support an axle tube 70 to which are mounted two rear wheels 260, 270 that are
independently removable. Each rear bracket 280, 290 features a brake
mechanism actuated by depressing a brake lever 300, 310, and releasable by
raising the brake lever 300, 310.
A pivoting arched canopy wireframe 725 pivots on the handle tube
20 to support a piece of canopy fabric 729 that may be flipped into an
extended
canopy shading position or a retracted position.
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A fabric seating assembly 800 (illustrated in more detail in Figs. 4A, 48,
11A and 118) is suspended between the handle tube 20 and the front tubes 40,
45 and
includes a rigid seat back 801 suspended at its sides by fabric web 815, 820.
The seat
back 801 has a reclined position in which it is supported by the side webs
815,820
stretched taut (as best shown in Fig. 48). The side webs also each feature an
extension
web 900, 905 extending from a part of each side web. A male clip 915 on the
end of one
extension web 905 and a female clip 910 on the other extension web 900 can be
clipped together, thereby pulling the side webs 815, 820 in behind the rigid
back panel
801 to secure the seat back in an upright position (as best shown in Fig. 4A).
The side fabric webs 815, 820 are attached to the handle tube 20 at
attachment points located near the canopy pivot, and near parts 120 and 130.
In the
illustrated embodiment, the webs are attached to the tubes with hook and loop
fasteners. In another preferred embodiment the webs may be more permanently
attached to the handle tube by screws. The side webs 815, 820 and the front of
the seat
bottom 805 are also attached to the front tubes 40, 45 at a location just
above the
pivoting connection of the seat tubes 50, 60 and the lower portion of the
front tubes 40,
45. Near the vertex of the seat bottom 805 with the seat back 801, the side
webs 815,
820 (and hence the seat bottom 805 and the seat back 801 ) are attached to the
seat
tubes in a sliding manner, e.~c ., by a strap 920,925 passing outside and
under the seat
tubes 50, 60. This sliding connection permits the stroller frame to be folded,
while the
seat back remains in either the upright or reclining position, as described in
more detail
below with reference to the folding sequence.
Referring now particularly to Fig. 2, the handle tube 20 is pivotally
connected at its lower ends to the front tubes 40, 45 by means of an upper
right pivot
mount 200 and an upper left pivot mount 190. The front tubes 40, 45 have their
vertex
at a nearly vertical head tube 41 which has a conventional headset assembly
for
mounting a fork shaft 780 of the fork .110 so that the fork 11 0 may pivot
along the
longitudinal axis of the head tube, which is offset slightly back from
vertical. The front
wheel 320 is mounted at the bottom of the fork 110. A
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footrest 80 may be provided mounted to the lower front part of the front tubes
40,
45 over the front wheel 320 as shown and may include a decorative cap 82.
This footrest 80 also serves as a fender and a fairing over the front wheel
320.
Left and right seat tubes 50, 60 are mounted to the front tubes 40,
45 by right front seat tube pivot mount 180 and left front seat tube pivot
mount
170 as shown. Both seat tubes 50, 60 are pivotally mounted at their other ends
to the rear tube 30 by left and right rear seat tube pivot mounts 750 and 755,
respectively. The rear tube 30 is generally U-shaped and is pivotally mounted
at its top ends to the handle tube 20 by means of an upper right pivot mount
230
and an upper left pivot mount 220. Right and left axle brackets 280, 290 are
mounted at the lower corners of the rear tube 30. The right and left axle
brackets 280, 290 each have a hole for receiving an axle tube 70 that extends
therebetween and the left and right wheels 260, 270 are each mountable
detachably on stub axles 340, 350, respectively that fit in the left and right
ends
of the axle tube 70, respectively. The ends of the axle tube may be fitted
with
sleeves 420, 430.
Each of the left and right rear wheels 260, 270 includes a two-piece
center hub including an outer center hub 325, 330 and an inner center hub 360,
370 with a stub axle 340, 350 that can be inserted therethrough. The end of
the
stub axles 340, 350, after being inserted through the wheels 260, 270 are
inserted into the ends of the axle tube 70. Spring-loaded pins 380, 390 engage
annular grooves 341, 351 in the stub axles 340, 350 to removably secure the
wheels in the axle tube 70. In this way the rear wheels 260, 270 are each
removably attached. The stub axles 340, 350 each have a tapered end so that
when inserted they slidingly contact the end of the pin 380, 390 at an angle
and
push it out against the spring force, permitting the stub axle 340, 350 to be
fully
inserted. Once fully inserted, the pin 380, 390 engages the annular groove
341,
351 so as to secure the stub axle 340, 350. The wheel 260, 270 is disengaged
by simultaneously pulling out on a spring loaded pin 380, 390 and pulling off
the
wheel.
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A brake pedal 300, 310 is pivotally mounted to each axle bracket
280, 290 and is pivotable between two detented positions. In an upper
position,
the brake pedal 300, 310 does not intertere with rotation of the wheel 260,
270.
However, when the brake pedal 300, 310 is depressed, a pin 301, 311 (depicted
in Fig. 8A) extending outwardly from the brake pedal engages radial teeth 361,
371 on the inner center hub 360, 370 to lock the wheel 260, 270 and prevent it
from rotating.
Returning again to the frame, optional right and left upper covers
120, 130 are provided over the lower portions of the handle tube and cover the
pivoting connection of the rear tube 30 and the handle tube 20. An inwardly
spring-biased pivoting latch 140, 150 on each side rotates about the
longitudinal
axis of the front tubes 40, 45 and has an inner groove 141, 151 for engaging
the
handle tube 20 to hold the stroller in the fully unfolded position. Optional
left and
right lower covers 90, 100 cover the upper ends of the front tubes 40, 45 and
also covers the pivoting connections of the front tubes 40, 45 to the handle
tube
20. The construction and operation of the side latches 140, 150 and the
folding
sequence of the frame are both discussed in more detail below.
Each of the wheels 260, 270, 320 has a foam rubber tire 261, 271,
321 having an all-terrain type tread mounted on to a rim with a spoked
intermediate hub 262, 272, 322 and two-piece plastic center hub 325, 360, 330,
370, 323 and 324. On the front wheel 320, a conventional roller bearing type
axle 329 is provided and is mounted to the lower end of the fork 110. The rear
wheels 260, 270 frictionally rotate on the stub axles 340, 350 that are
inserted
into sleeves 420, 430 on the ends of the axle tube 70, which is mounted to the
rear tube 30 by the axle mounting brackets 280, 290. As noted above, each rear
wheel 260, 270 has its own independently operable brake 300, 310.
At the front of the seat bottom, a leg rest flap 810 is provided that
may be flipped up as shown in Fig 1 B to provide access to a cargo compartment
999 located under the seat bottom. The cargo compartment 999 is a fabric
basket suspended from the lower part of the rear tube 30 just above the wheel
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mounting brackets and attached to the front tubes 40, 45 underneath the
footrest
80.
2. Lockable Pivoting Front Caster
Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3A through 3C, the front fork
assembly 110 includes a body portion having a left fork 11 Oa, a right fork
110b,
and a fork shaft 780. A shaft 780 extends into a conventional head set
assembly
42 in the center head tube 41, to secure the front fork assembly 110 to the
front
tubes 40, 45 so that the front fork assembly 110 is free to rotate 360
degrees,
in either direction, with respect to the frame of the stroller. The fork 110
also
includes a swivel locking pin 525. In this embodiment, the locking pin 525 is
a
conventional bolt which extends through the fork crown 790 and extends outward
from the fork crown 790.
The front wheel 320 is rotatably mounted to the front fork assembly
110 by a front axle assembly, which is a conventional axle assembly that
includes a ball bearing assembly, and a front axle 329 that extends through
the
axle bore of the front wheel. Axle nuts are tightened over washers on the
outside of the fork to secure the wheel in place.
The front fork assembly 110 has a design that is similar to that of
a conventional caster in that when the stroller is travelling in the forward
direction, the axis of rotation of the front wheel is horizontally displaced
rearwardly from the vertical rotational axis of swivel of the shaft 780. In
other
words when moving in the forward direction, the front wheel 320 will be urged
by
friction between itself and the travelling surface to swivel to a stable
position in
which the front wheel trails the head assembly 42. This feature is
accomplished
by constructing the front fork assembly 110 so that although the shaft 780 is
rotatably positioned to the stable position, the fork sides 110a, 110b depend
from the crown 790 at a slight rearward angle (with respect to the axis of
rotation
of shaft 780). Furthermore, in this stable position, the locking pin 525
extends
rearward from the crown 790.
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A footrest retainer 580 includes a body portion 581 which has left
and right arms 582, 583, which are generally "L" shaped and depend downward
from body position 581 along the inner sides and under the left and right
sides
of the front tubes 40, 45 respectively. Left and right guide rails 585, 586
depend
downward from the left and right arms 582, 583, respectively, and are oriented
so that the rail's longest sides are parallel with the forward and rearward
directions of motion of the stroller. In this embodiment, left guide rail 585
includes a rib 587 that protrudes from the outside surface. The front portion
584
of the body portion 581 is semi-circular shaped to mate with head tube 41.
Consequently, when the footrest retainer 580 is mounted, the body portion 581
rests on top of the front tubes 40, 45 with the front portion 584 abutting
against
the head tube 41, while the arms 582, 583 extend down along the inside and
under the front tubes 40, 45.
The footrest 80 includes a body portion 81, a grooved feet
receiving portion 83, and right and left rear frame receiving portions 84a,
84b,
respectively. The footrest 80 is fastened to the footrest retainer 580 in any
conventional fashion such as by two screws (not shown), which extend through
the body portion 581 of footrest retainer 580 and into the underside of the
footrest 80. The right and left frame receiving portions 84a, 84b are shaped
to
receive the upwardly extending portions of front tubes 40, 45 and act to
prevent
footrest 80 from moving in a rearward direction.
Once the footrest retainer 580 and the footrest 80 are mechanically
coupled (by screws or any other conventional manner), the assembly (footrest
retainer 580 and footrest 80) is prevented from moving in an upwardly vertical
direction, with respect to the stroller frame, by the arms 582, 583 of
footrest
retainer 580, which extend under the front tubes 40, 45. The assembly is
prevented from moving rearwardly because the right and left frame receiving
portions 84a, 84b of the footrest 80 abut against pivot mounts 170 and 180,
which are attached to the front tubes 40, 45. The assembly cannot move
downward since the body portion 581 of footrest retainer abuts against the top
sides of the front tubes 40, 45. Furthermore, the assembly cannot move in the
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forward direction because the semi-circular front portion 584 of the body
portion
581 of the footrest retainer 580 abuts against the rear side of the head tube
41.
Consequently, once footrest 80 and footrest retainer 580 are mechanically
coupled (as with screws), they are fixed in position and cannot move in any
direction with respect to the stroller frame.
A swivel lock 600 includes a body portion 601 having a right slot
602 and a left slot 603 which are sized and shaped to receive right and left
guide
rails 586, 585, of footrest retainer 580, respectively. The left slot 603 has
a first
notch 604 and a second notch 605, which are sized and shaped to receive a rib
587 of the left guide rail 585. In addition, at least the left slot 603 has a
handle
608 that extends outwardly and downwardly from its forward-most outside
corner. The body portion 601 also includes a locking groove 610 positioned
between left and right inwardly directed cam surfaces 616, 615, respectively.
The groove 610 is sized and shaped to receive the locking pin 525.
The swivel lock 600 is slidably fastened to the footrest retainer 580
by screws 618, which extend through washers 619 and into the left and right
guide rails 586, 585, respectively. Therefore, the_swivel lock 600 is
prevented
from moving in the vertical direction by screws 618 and prevented from moving
in a horizontal direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal center-
line of the
stroller because the slots 602, 603 are substantially the same width (and
therefore do not allow the swivel lock 600 to slide laterally) as rails 585,
586,
respectively.
However, the swivel lock 600 can slide horizontally along a path
that is parallel to the longitudinal center-line of the stroller (and thus
parallel with
the longer sides of guide rails 585, 586) between a first forward engaging
position, shown in Fig. 3C, and a second rearward non-engaging position, shown
in Fig. 3B. In the first forward engaging position, locking pin 525 is
disposed in
locking groove 610 and since swivel lock 600 cannot move laterally (as
discussed above), groove 610 acts to hold locking pin 525 in the rearward
position so that the front fork assembly 110 is locked in the stable forward
position (and the front wheel 320 is positioned for forward movement). Since
the
CA 02296903 2000-O1-19
__ 1'~-
locking pin 525 is fixed to the fork assembly 110, the front fork assembly 110
is
prevented from swivelling and is in a swivel lock mode. Furthermore, in the
first
forward engaging position, the rib 587 of the left guide rail 585 engages the
first
notch 604 to the left slot 603 to provide resistance to the swivel lock 600
from
inadvertently sliding backward.
In the second rearward non-engaging position shown in Fig. 3B,
the swivel lock 600 is positioned rearwardly farther away from front fork
assembly 110 so that the swivel lock (and therefore the locking groove 610)
does
not engage the locking pin 525. In this position, the front fork assembly is
free
to rotate and is in a free swivel mode. Furthermore, in the second rearward
non-
engaging position the rib 587 of the left guide rail 585 engages the second
notch
605 of the left slot 603 to provide resistance to the swivel lock 600 from
inadvertently sliding forward.
For transition from the free swivel mode to the swivel lock mode,
the user rotates the front wheel 320 (and therefore the front fork assembly
110)
to approximately the stable forward position, in which the front wheel is
positioned for forward movement of the stroller and the locking pin extends
substantially rearward of the fork 110. The user then slides swivel lock 600
forward, utilizing the handle 608, from the rearward non-engaging position to
the
forward engaging position. If the locking pin 525 is perfectly aligned with
the
locking groove 610, the locking pin 525 will simply gradually (as the user
slides
swivel lock 600) extend into locking groove 610. If the locking pin 525 is not
perfectly aligned with the locking groove 610, the locking pin 525 will strike
either
right or left inwardly directed cam surfaces 615, 616, respectively, which
will
commonly direct the locking pin 525 into alignment with the locking groove
610.
In either instance, the front fork assembly will end up in the swivel lock
mode.
For transition from the swivel lock mode to the free swivel mode,
the user simply slides the swivel lock 600 rearward, utilizing handle 608,
from the
forward engaging position to the rearward non-engaging position. In this
position
as discussed above, the locking pin 525 is no longer disposed in locking
groove
610 and therefore front fork assembly 110 is free to swivel.
CA 02296903 2003-12-30
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3. Seat Back Recline
The seat back recline will now be described making particular reference to
Figs. 4A, 4B, 11A and 11 B. Shown in Fig. 11A is the front view of the overall
design of
the components comprising the reclining stroller seat assembly. The seat
assembly
consists of a back rest portion 801 permanently attached to a seat portion 805
which is
permanently attached to a leg rest flap 810. Attached along the periphery of
the back
rest portion 801 and the seat portion 805 are left and right web sections 815,
820 which
when attached to the frame of the stroller function as the sides of the
stroller seat. Both
left and right web. sections 815, 820 contain appendages 825, 826 which are
intended
to fold around the handle tube 20, fastened to the upper portion of the handle
tube 20
by the right and left canopy mounts 735, 736, through holes 890, 895 in the
web
section, the lower section of the web appendage fastened to the handle tube 20
by
hook-an-loop type fasteners 865,870,875,880, or alternatively, fabric
retainers with
screws.
Attached to the front of the back rest portion 801 are right and left side
waist straps 835, 830, which may be attached by a horizontal strip 850.
Stitched to the
seat portion 805 is the center crotch portion 855. The back rest portion 801,
the seat
portion 805, and the leg rest flap 810 consist of a light weight rigid
backing, such as
hard board, plywood or plastic, with a foam-like material attached to the
front side for
the comfort of the occupant.
Stitched to the back side of the left and right webs 815, 820 are the left
and right extension webs 900, 905. The extension webs 900, 905 are
appropriately
angled inward from the top of the web sections 815, 820 to the intersection of
the back
rest portion 801 and the seat portion 805. Attached to the left extension web
900 via a
fabric loop is a male buckle part 915 and attached to the right extension web
905 via a
fabric loop is a female buckle part 910. When the male 915 and female 910
buckle parts
are joined, the seat back portion 801 is positioned in the upright position
(shown in Fig.
4A) and when uncoupled lies in the reclined position (shown in Fig. 48). The
seat
portion 805 of the stroller seat remains in the same position and angle
irrespective of
the
CA 02296903 2003-12-30
-19-
position of the seat back 801. The backrest portion 801 pivots at the
intersection of the
back rest portion 801 and the seat portion 805.
Therefore, in the preferred embodiment, the exterior webs 900, 905 serve
as a means for foreshortening the webs 815, 820 to pull the back rest panel
801 into a
more upright position.
In alternative embodiments, the webs 815, 820 might be foreshortened in
other ways. For example, the webs 815, 820 might each include a pair of zipper
halves
arranged in V-configuration with part of the webs 815, 820 serving as a gusset
or dart
between the zipper halves. When the zipper halves are unzipped, the seat
backrest
panel 801 reclines, supported by the webs 815, 820. When the zippers are
zipped, the
seat back rest portion 801 is pulled up into a more upright position, because
the gusset
or dart portions of the webs 815, 820 would be taken up as slack, and the webs
815,810
are effectively foreshortened by the distance between the unzipped zipper
halves, which
are now zipped together.
As illustrated by the rear view of Fig. 118, just below the intersection of
the
back rest portion 801 and the seat portion 805 lies a horizontal strip to
which the right
and left sliding seat mount straps 925, 920 are attached. At the end of the
left sliding
seat mount strap 920 lies a conventional buckle consisting of two seem-
circular rings
935. The end 930 of the right sliding seat mount strap 925 is interwoven
between the
rings 935 at the end of the left sliding seat mount strap 920 to couple the
left and right
sliding seat mount straps around the left and right seat tubes 50 and 60. The
loop
formed by the left 920 and right 925 sliding seat mount straps around and
under the left
and right seat tubes 50, 60 slides along the tubes during the folding process.
This
allows the seat back to remain in the upright or reclined position when folded
and
unfolded.
As seen in Fig. 118, just below the intersection of the seat portion 805 and
the leg rest flap 810 lies a horizontal strip 940 which extends beyond the
length of the
leg rest flap 810 in both directions. The ends of the horizontal strip section
940 are
attached to the left and right front tubes 40, 45 via screws near the juncture
of the front
tubes 40, 45 and the handle tube 20. The leg rest
CA 02296903 2000-O1-19
--20-
flap 810 pivots about the intersection of the seat portion 805 and the leg
rest flap
810.
4. Automatically Latching Side Frame Latches
The front tubes 40, and 45 have optional lower cover members
100, 90, as well as spring-loaded latch handles 140, 150. When the frame is in
the fully extended, unfolded orientation, the lower grooves 141, 151 in the
latch
handles 140, 150 engage the handle tube 20 to hold the frame in the fully
unfolded position.
The left side latch handle 140 and its associated parts are
illustrated in detail in Figs. 5A through 6F. The right side latch handle 150
is
symmetrically opposite and operates in the same manner as the left side latch
handle 140.
The latch handles 140, 150 are biased into this locked position by
coil torsion springs 670, 680 having one end 671 (spring 670 is shown in
detail
in Fig. 5A) attached internally to the cover member 100, which is fixed to the
front tube 40 and the other end 672 connected to the latch handle 140. To
release the stroller from the fully unfolded locked position, the latch
handles 140,
150 are simultaneously rotated outward so that the inner grooves 141, 151
clear
the handle tube 20. With the latch handles 140, 150 so rotated outward, the
handle tube 20 may be pivoted downward relative to the front tubes 40, 45 to
begin the folding procedure. The entire stroller frame may then be folded in
the
sequence shown in Figs. 10A through 10F (the folding sequence is discussed
in more detail below).
To reconfigure the stroller from the folded position to the open
unfolded position, the handle tube 20 is pivoted relative to the front tubes
40, 45
and will move through a range of angled positions including the angled
position
shown in Figs. 6A and 6B. As the handle tube 20 continues to be pivoted, it
reaches the intermediate position shown in Figs. 6C and 6D, at which point the
lower edges 142 of the latch handles 140, 150 come into a sliding camming
contact with a portion of the handle tube 20. This camming contact urges the
CA 02296903 2003-12-30
-21 -
latch handles 140, 150 to be rotated outwardly, against the spring biased
pressure. This
permits the handle tube 20 to continue to be pivoted upwards relative to the
front tubes
40,45 until the handle tube 20 and the front tubes 40, 45 are substantially
parallel as
shown in Figs 6E and 6F. At this point, the side latch handles 140, 150 are
free to rotate
inward so that the inner grooves 141 , 151 engage and entrap the handle tube
20. (The
locked position with the latches 140, 150 rotated inward is shown in Fig. 58,
6E and 6F.)
The inward biasing force on the latch handles 140, 150 that is provided by the
torsional
coil springs 670, 680 urges the handles into this closed position. The
stroller is now
locked in the completely unfolded operative position until both latch handles
140, 150
are simultaneously rotated outward (the latches are shown rotated outward in
Fig. 5C)
against the spring pressure again to permit folding of the stroller.
5. Seat Belt Restraint
Shown in Fig. 7 is a seat belt assembly constructed in accordance with the
present invention. The seat belt assembly of the present invention includes a
pair of
waist straps 830, 835, that are permanently attached to a horizontal strip 850
located on
the front section of the back rest portion 801.
The forward ends of the waist straps 830, 835 are coupled to female
buckle parts 840, 845 adapted to engage with adjacent male buckle parts 856,
857
located on the center crotch strap 855 (male buckle 857 is hidden in Fig. 7).
Both waist
straps 830, 835 are adjustable at the intersection of the female buckle parts
840, 845
and the corresponding waist straps 830, 835. This is to accommodate children
of
smaller or larger sizes. As can be readily observed from Fig. 7, both female
buckle
parts 840, 845 are attached to their corresponding waist straps 830, 835 via
weaving
the waist strap 830, 835 through three parallel openings on the female buckle
part 840,
845. The end of each waist strap 830, 835 is folded over itself to prevent the
waist
straps 830, 835 from completely disassociating themselves from their
corresponding
female parts 840, 845.
CA 02296903 2003-12-30
- 22 -
The third component of the seat belt arrangement consists of a center
crotch strap 855 constructed to extend upwardly from the seat bottom 805 to
the waist
straps 830, 835. The center crotch section 855 is positioned between the legs
of the
child seated in the stroller. The crotch strap 855 has its remote end
permanently'
attached to the surface of the seat 805 through stitching. This creates a
permanent
attachment there between to prevent removal of the crotch strap 855 form the
stroller
seat 805.
As can be readily seen in Fig. 7, the male buckle parts 856,857 of the seat
belt assembly are permanently attached to a center crotch section 855 of the
restraining
device by a connecting strap 858 of conventional strapping material which is
stitched to
the material comprising the center crotch section 855. Thus, the male buckle
parts 856,
857 are always in position for use and always attached to the crotch strap
855. This
configuration prohibits use of the waist straps 830, 835 without the center
crotch strap
855 since the male buckle parts 856, 857 are permanently attached to the
center crotch
strap 855. The center crotch strap 855 is constructed such that the material
creates an
envelope surrounding the otherwise exposed male buckle parts 856,857, said
envelope
decreasing in width travelling down towards the seat 805.
In a preferred embodiment the envelope is stitched closed, allowing
sufficient room for the male buckle parts 856, 857 and the female buckle parts
840, 845
to be completely covered when in the locked position. The overall appearance
of the
center crotch strap 855, when. viewed from the front of the stroller is
tapered as shown.
The envelope is formed by folding a portion back on itself and stitching the
top of the
free end of the center crotch material 855 to its location of intersection
with the
remaining center crotch strap material 855. In alternative embodiments, the
envelope
might partially cover the male and female buckle parts or not cover them at
all.
As illustrated in Fig. 7, each female buckle part 840, 845 has a receptacle
for receiving the free ends of the male buckle parts 856, 857 attached to the
center
crotch strap 855. The female buckle parts 840, 845 are adapted to receive the
inwardly
flexible resilient finger of their counterpart male buckle
CA 02296903 2000-O1-19
--23-
parts 856, 857. The female buckle parts 840, 845 are rectangular in nature,
having an opening in the center allowing for direct access to the male parts
856,
857 by the user when the male parts 856, 857 are in the locked position, said
opening being the means by which the male 856, 857 and female parts 840, 845
are uncoupled.
As illustrated in Fig. 7, each male part 856, 857 has a central
resilient appendage moveable by the operator for coupling and uncoupling with
respect to the female parts 840, 845.
When inserted, the resilient finger of the male buckle parts 856,
857 cams downward towards the underside of the female parts 840, 845 due to
the inclination of the male appendage with respect to the female opening. When
in the locked position, the resilient finger will spring back to its original
position,
effectively locking the male 856, 857 and female parts 840, 845 together until
the
resilient finger is urged inwardly by the user so as to uncouple the seat
belt.
The side straps 830, 835, horizontal strip 850, male part connecting
strap 858, and the center crotch section 855 are fabricated in the preferred
embodiment of conventional strapping material.
6. Automaticall rLEnqaqing Brake When Frame Folded
Turning now to Figs. 8A through 8C, it will be seen that the handle
tube 20 and the rear tube 30 are arranged so that when the stroller frame is
fully
folded, a portion of the handle tube 20 contacts each of the brake members
300,
310 and forces the brake levers 300, 310 downward so that they then engage
a wheel tooth to lock the respective rear wheel 260,270.
In this way, fully folding the stroller frame always locks both rear
wheels. Then, the brake 300, 310 is held in the locked position by the
frictional
contact of the pins 301, 311 in the wheel teeth 361, 371 so that when the
stroller
is unfolded, the rear wheels 260, 270 are already locked and remain locked.
This is advantageous, since this will prevent the stroller from rolling away
immediately after it has been unfolded and also hold the stroller stable
while, for
example, putting a child or other objects in the stroller. Also, since the
rear
CA 02296903 2000-O1-19
--24-
wheels 260, 270 are automatically locked when the stroller is fully folded,
the
folded stroller may be set on its rear wheels 260, 270 and rested leaning
against
a wall, for example, and the rear wheels will not roll out from under the
bottom
of the stroller. After the stroller is unfolded, the brakes 300, 310 can be
easily
released when desired, by manually raising both rear brake levers 300, 310.
7. Folding Sequence and Hinge Angles
The folding sequence will now be described making particular
reference to Figs. 10A through 10F. Depicted in Fig. 10A is the stroller as it
appears in the fully unfolded position. Note the orientations and connections
of
the handle tube 20, the rear support tube 30, the left and right seat tubes 50
and
60 (only tube 50 is visible), and the left and right front tubes 40 and 45
(only tube
45 is visible). To commence the folding process, the spring loaded latches
140,
150 are rotated out away from the handle tube 20 by the user (in the manner
shown in Fig. 5C).
As illustrated in Fig. 10B, when the latches 140, 150 are
disengaged, the frame begins to fold about the intersection between the handle
tube 20 and the front tubes 40, 45 located just below the location of the
latches
140, 150. While the handle tube 20 rotates downward, the left and right front
tube 40 are pulled upward, effectively pulling the front wheel 320 toward the
rear
wheels 260, 270. There is additional rotation at both the intersection of the
left
front tube 40 and the left seat tube 50 and at the intersection of the right
front
tube 45 and the right seat tube 60 (only the right seat tube 60 is visible).
The left
and right seat tubes 50, 60 are pulled upward and toward the rear support tube
at this intersection. The left and right seat tubes 50, 60 also rotate about
the
25 intersection with the rear support tube 30. The rotation is the same as
that about
the intersections of the front tubes and the seat tubes; upward and towards
the
rear.
As illustrated in Fig 1 OC, as the frame collapses, the front tubes 40,
45, the handle tube 20, and the seat tubes 50, 60 all continue to rotate
toward
30 the rear support tube 30 in the same fashion as described above. The ends
of
CA 02296903 2000-O1-19
the front tubes 40, 45, once connected to the handle tube 20, now lie in a
plane
perpendicular to the horizontal. The handle tube grip 770, which was
originally
angled upward, is now angled downward via rotation about the front tubes 40,
45 and the rear support tube 30. As further illustrated in Fig. 10C,the
reclining
seat shifts its position as the rotation occurs. The reclining seat remains
fixed
at the handle tube 20 intersection (via screws through holes 890, 895 in the
seat
fabric webs 815, 820) and at the connections to the head tubes 40, 45 (via
screws through leg rest flap located just above the horizontal strap 940).
However, the seat bottom 805 slides along the left and right seat tubes 50, 60
during the folding process. As also illustrated in Fig. 1 OC, the loop formed
by the
coupling of the seat mount straps 920, 925 around the seat tubes 50, 60 slides
upward and towards the front of the stroller. The back rest portion 801 now
lies
on the other side of the handle tube 20, rotating about its connection with
the
seat portion 805. The seat portion 805 and the exposed end of the leg rest
flap
810 are brought closer together throughout the folding process.
The sliding loop formed by the seat mount straps 920, 925
provides an important advantage. (Of course other sliding or travelling
connections might be used). Since the loop slides along the seat tubes as
discussed above, the entire folding and unfolding process may be performed
with the seat back in either of the reclined or upright positions -- the
stroller thus
returns, when unfolded, to the same seat back position (reclined or upright)
it
had before folding. Also, a rigid non-bending seat back may be utilized and
still
achieve the fold described above.
Fig. 10D illustrates the folding process near its most folded state.
At this stage, the back rest portion 801 extends through the handle tube 20
and
lies in nearly the same plane as the seat portion 805. The loop formed by the
coupled seat mount straps 920, 925 has substantially traversed the seat tubes
50, 60 toward the intersection of the seat tubes 50, 60 and the front tubes
40,
45. The seat tubes 50, 60 protrude through the u-shaped space defined by the
rear support tube 30.
CA 02296903 2000-O1-19 '
--26-
Fig. 1 OE illustrates the completely folded state of the stroller with
its wheels attached. Note that the back rest portion 801 is bent backward in
relation to the seat portion 805. The seat tubes 50, 60 are in direct contact
with
the rear of the back rest portion 801 and are protruding through the handle
tube
20. The horizontal aspects of all of the members are nearly parallel with one
another, with the exception of the bend in the front tubes 40, 45 and the fork
assembly 110.
As Fig. 1 OF illustrates, the stroller can be compressed even further
by removing the wheels, which may optionally be laid flat between the rear
portion of the back rest 801 and the front fork assembly 110. Note that this
folding process may be accomplished whether the seat is in the upright or
reclined position.
As shown in Fig. 9, the handle tube 20 and the seat tube 40, which
are generally parallel when the stroller is fully unfolded, are angled in two
planes
when the stroller is folded. This is because the fold axis on both sides is
the
same axis and is perpendicular to the center line of the stroller. This fold
axis is
therefore similar to that of a four wheeled stroller having generally parallel
sides
when both unfolded and folded. In such a stroller the fold axis is generally
perpendicular to the axis of the longitudinal axis of the tubes. However, in
the
case of the preferred embodiment of the invention, the fold axis is not
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of tubes 40 and 20 as shown. The pivot
mount 190 and bushing 650 are shaped to account for the difference in angles
of the fold axis and the longitudinal axis of the tubes. The other fold axis
of the
pivot points of the stroller fold are similarly perpendicular to the center
line of the
stroller-- not necessarily perpendicular to the various tube members
themselves.
Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided in accordance
with the invention an adjustable decking system that fully satisfies the
objects,
aims and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described
in conjunction with illustrated embodiments thereof, it is evident that many
alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled
in the
art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to
embrace all
CA 02296903 2000-O1-19
such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and
broad
scope of the invention.
