Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FOLDABLE STROLLER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a foldable stroller,
more particularly to a foldable stroller with a carrier
that is rotatable relative to a frame of the foldable
stroller.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Patent Number 5,921,574 discloses a
perambulator that comprises a foldable frame provided
with wheels, and a carrying element connectable to the
frame for carrying a child. The frame includes a
substantially horizontally extending undercarriage,
and a pushing element connected to the undercarriage
and including a pair of opposite rods. The carrying
element has a sub-frame that is secured to the rods of
the pushing element through two fixation constructions
and that can be released from the fixation constructions,
so as to be rotatable relative to the rods through
operation of a button provided on one of the rods and
a lever on the other of the rods.
The aforesaid perambulator is disadvantageous in
that the fixation constructions are relatively
complicated, and folding and extending of the frame
through operation of the button and the lever are
relatively inconvenient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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Therefore, the object of the present invention is
to provide a foldable stroller that is capable of
overcoming the aforesaid drawbacks associated with the
prior art.
According to this invention, there is provided a
foldable stroller that comprises: a wheeled foldable
frame having a pair of pivot axles, a pair of opposite
lower rods, and a pair of opposite upper rods that are
pivoted to the lower rods through the pivot axles,
respectively, so as to permit folding of the frame; a
pair of locking units, each of which includes first and
second interlocking members that are provided on the
frame and that are releasably engageable with each other
so as to lock the upper rods against rotation relative
to the lower rods; a carrier disposed between the pivot
axles and including a pair of opposite connecting parts
that are pivoted to the frame through the pivot axles,
respectively, each of the connecting parts being formed
with first and second arcuate grooves having a respective
curvature center coincident with a respective one of
the pivot axles; and a pair of limiting units, each of
which includes first and second studs that project
respectively from a respective one of the lower rods
and a respective one of the upper rods into the first
and second arcuate grooves of a respective one of the
connecting parts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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Other 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:
Figure 1 is a schematic view of the preferred
embodiment of a foldable stroller according to the
present invention, illustrating how a seat can be
detachablymounted on a carrier of the foldable stroller;
Figure 2 is a fragmentary schematic view
illustrating a state where upper and lower rods of the
preferred embodiment are disposed at an extended
position and are locked against relative movement
through a locking unit, and where a carrier is limited
by two studs against rotation relative to the upper and
lower rods in a first direction;
Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the
preferred embodiment disposed at the state shown in Fig.
2;
Figure 4 is a fragmentary schematic view illustrating
how the upper rod of the preferred embodiment is folded
from the state shown in Fig. 2;
Figure 5 is a schematic view illustrating how the
carrier of the preferred embodiment together with the
seat can be moved during folding of the upper rod; and
Figure 6 is a fragmentary schematic view illustrating
another state where the upper rod is disposed at a folded
position, and the carrier is limited by the studs against
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rotation in a second direction opposite to the first
direction.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figures l, 2 and 3, the preferred
embodiment of a foldable stroller according to the
present invention is shown to include : a wheeled foldable
frame 20 (for the sake of simplicity, only one side of
the frame 20 is shown in Figures 1 to 3) having a plurality
of wheels 311 provided thereon, a pair of pivot axles
35, a pair of opposite lower rods 32, and a pair of opposite
upper rods 341 that are pivoted to the lower rods 32
through the pivot axles 35, respectively, so as to permit
folding of the frame 20; a pair of locking units, each
of which includes first and second interlocking members
321, 381 that are provided on the frame 20 and that are
releasably engageable with each other so as to lock the
upper rods 341 against rotation relative to the lower
rods 32; a carrier 5 disposed between the pivot axles
35 and including a pair of opposite connecting parts
51 that are pivoted to the frame 20 through the pivot
axles 35, respectively, each of the connecting parts
51 being formed with first and second arcuate grooves
513, 514 having a respective curvature center coincident
with a respective one of the pivot axles 35; and a pair
of limiting units, each of which includes first and second
studs 36, 37 that project respectively from a respective
one of the lower rods 32 and a respective one of the
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upper rods 341 into the first and second arcuate grooves
513, 514 of a respective one of the connecting parts
51.
In this embodiment, referring again to Figure 2, each
5 of the first and second arcuate grooves 513, 514 is
defined by a groove-defining wall that has opposite first
and second ends 515, 516 (517, 518) . The first stud 36
contacts the first end 515 of the groove-defining wall
of the first arcuate groove 513 so as to limit the carrier
5 against rotation relative to the upper and lower rods
341, 32 in a first direction, and the second stud 37
contacts the first end 517 of the groove-defining wall
of the second arcuate groove 514 so as to limit the carrier
5 against rotation relative to the upper and lower rods
341, 32 in a second direction opposite to the first
direction when the frame 20 is disposed at an extended
state, as best shown in Figure 1.
On the other hand, referring to Figure 6, the first
stud 36 contacts the second end 516 of the groove-defining
wall of the first arcuate groove 513 so as to limit the
carrier 5 against rotation relative to the upper and
lower rods 341, 32 in the second direction, and the second
stud 37 contacts the second end 518 of the groove-defining
wall of the second arcuate groove 514 so as to limit
the carrier 5 against rotation relative to the upper
and lower rods 341, 32 in the first direction when the
frame 20 is disposed at a folded state, as best shown
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in Figure 6.
Referring again to Figures 1 and 3, each of the
connecting parts 51 of the carrier 5 is formed with a
slot 521 for mounting a carrying element 21 thereon.
In this embodiment, the carrying element 21 is in the
form of a seat, and is formed with a pair of protrusions
211 (only one side of the carrying element 21 is shown
in Fig. 1) that are respectively insertable into the
slots 521 in the connecting parts 51.
As for the pivot connection between the upper and
lower rods 341, 32, referring again to Figure 3, each
of the lower rods 32 is formed with a pair of lug plates
322, and each of the upper rods 341 is formed with a
pivot body 343 that is disposed between the lug plates
322 of the respective one of the lower rods 32. Each
of the pivot axles 35 extends through the lug plates
322 of the respective one of the lower rods 32 and the
pivot body 343 of the respective one of the upper rods
341.
Referring once more to Figure 2, the first
interlocking member 321 is provided on an upper portion
of a respective one of the lower rods 32, and extends
toward a respective one of the upper rods 341 . The second
interlocking members 381 is formed on a lower portion
of a respective one of upper rods 341 . Each of the locking
units further includes a compression spring 382 abutting
against the second interlocking member 381 for providing
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an urging force to push the second interlocking member
381 to move toward the first interlocking members 321
for engagement therebetween, a slide 383 (see Fig. 1)
mounted on an upper end of a respective one of the upper
rods 341, and an operating cable 382 interconnecting
the second interlocking member 381 and the slide 383
such that up-pulling of the operating cable 382 results
in disengagement of the second interlocking member 381
from the first interlocking member 321 so as to permit
the upper rods 341 to be pivotable about the respective
one of the pivot axles 35 as to fold the frame 20.
The frame 20 further comprises a pushing lever 342
interconnecting the upper ends of the upper rods 341,
and cooperating with the upper rods 341 to form a pushing
element 34 for pushing or pulling the stroller.
The frame 20 further includes an undercarriage 31
and a pair of pivot rods 33, each of which pivotally
connects a lower end of a respective one of the lower
rods 32 to the undercarriage 31. Preferably, in this
embodiment, the frame 20 further includes a strut
mechanism 30 mounted between the undercarriage 31 and
the lower rods 32 so as to permit the lower rods 32 to
stay in an extended state as shown in Figure 1. The strut
mechanism 30 includes a pair of torsion springs 301,
each of which is mounted on a respective one of the pivot
rods 33 for providing an urging force to urge the
corresponding one of the lower rods 32 to be disposed
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in the extended state, a pair of up-pushing cylinders
302 mounted between the lower rods 32 and the
undercarriage 31, a strut assembly 303 mounted between
the lower rods 32 and the undercarriage 31 for supporting
the lower rods 32, and an interlocking unit 304. The
interlocking unit 304 includes an engaging hook 305
mounted on the undercarriage 31, and an engaging base
306 mounted on one of the lower rods 32 and engageabale
with the engaging hook 305 so as to prevent undesired
movement of the lower rods 32 relative to the
undercarriage 31 when the frame 20 is disposed at the
folded state shown in Figure 6.
To move the frame 20 from the extended state shown
in Figure 1 to the folded state shown in Figure 3, the
slide 383 is pulled upwardly to disengage the second
interlocking member 381 from the first interlocking
member 321, and the pushing element 34 is subsequently
pushed to pivot frontwardly about the pivot axles 35.
At the same time, the strut assembly 303 is driven to
pivot relative to the lower rods 32 and the undercarriage
31, and the second stud 37 of each limiting unit is moved
from the first end 517 of the groove-defining wall of
the corresponding second arcuate groove 514 toward the
second end 518 of the groove-defining wall of the
corresponding second arcuate groove 514 . The connecting
parts 51 of the carrier 5 remain stationary until the
second studs 37 reach the second ends 518 of the
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groove-defining walls of the second arcuate grooves 514
(see Fig. 4), are driven by the second studs 37 to pivot
about the respective pivot axles 35 when the second studs
37 move further along with the frontward movement of
the upper rods 341, and are stopped from moving when
the second ends 516 of the groove-defining walls of the
first arcuate grooves 513 reach the first studs 36,
thereby disposing the frame 20 at the folded position.
At the same time, the lower rods 32 are moved from an
inclined position toward a horizontal position relative
to the undercarriage 31 during frontward movement of
the pushing element 34. Note that, in this embodiment,
the carrier 5 is disposed parallel to the undercarriage
31 when the frame 20 is disposed at the folded position.
However, it can be modified so as to be disposed at a
desired angle relative to the undercarriage 31 according
to practical requirements. The engaging hook 305
immediately engages the engaging base 306 when the second
ends 516 of the groove-defining walls of the first
arcuate grooves 513 reach the first studs 36. Moreover,
the torsion springs 301 accumulate an urging force for
providing an upward force against the lower rods 32 when
the frame 20 is disposed at the folded position.
When it is desired to restore the frame 20 to the
extended position, the pushing element 34 is pulled
upwardly, and the engaging hook 305 is disengaged from
the engaging base 306. At this time, the second studs
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37 are moved from the second ends 518 of the
groove-defining walls of the second arcuate grooves 514
toward the first ends 517 of the groove-defining walls
of the second arcuate grooves 514. The carrier 5 is then
5 driven by the second studs 37 to pivot about the pivot
axles 35 when the second studs 37 reach the first ends
517 of the groove-defining walls of the second arcuate
grooves 514, and is stopped from moving by the first
studs 36 when the first ends 515 of the groove-defining
10 walls of the first arcuate grooves 513 reach the first
studs 36, thereby disposing the frame 20 at the extended
position. At the same time, the lower rods 32 are urged
by the torsion springs 301 to move to the inclined
position relative to the undercarriage 31.
With the inclusion of the limiting units (36, 37)
and the first and second arcuate grooves 513, 514 in
the foldable stroller of this invention, the aforesaid
drawbacksassociated withtheconventionalstrollercan
be eliminated.
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 embodiments
but is intended to cover various arrangement included
within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all suchmodifications
and equivalent arrangements.
