Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Foldable Pushcart and Foldable Baby Carriage
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a pushcart and a baby
carriage. More particularly, the present invention relates to a foldable
pushcart that is reduced in size in front-back and width directions when
folded, and a foldable baby carriage that is reduced in size in height and
width directions when folded. Note that the term "pushcart" has a broad
meaning including a baby carriage, a load-carrying cart, and the like.
Description of the Background Art
A baby carriage that is reduced in size in height and width
directions when folded is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model
Publication No. S45(1970)-13549 of examined applications and Japanese
Patent Publication No. H07(1995)-12824 of examined applications. The
baby carriages disclosed in these publications are structured so that a pair
of push bars extending in an up-down direction are bendable forward to a
pair of front legs extending in the up-down direction, whereby the height in
the folded state is reduced. The baby carriages are also reduced in size in a
width direction when folded. In order to enable such reduction in size in
the width direction, a pair of rear legs and the pair of push bars are
connected to each other by a back cross member formed by two bar members
that cross each other in an X shape.
The baby carriages disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication
No. S45(1970)-13549 of examined applications and Japanese Patent
Publication No. H07(1995)-12824 of examined applications are structured
so that the pair of push bars are bendable forward in order to reduce the
height in the folded state. Another type of a baby carriage is disclosed in,
for example, Japanese National Phase Publication Nos. 2001-525291 and
2005-522372 of PCT applications. In the baby carriages disclosed in these
publications, the height in the folded state of the baby carriage is reduced
by moving a pair of push bars downward along a pair of front legs.
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In the baby carriages disclosed in Japanese Utility Model
Publication No. S45(1970)-13549 of examined applications and Japanese
Patent Publication No. H07(1995)-12824 of examined applications, an
upper part of the back cross member is connected to the back of the pair of
push bars. It is therefore difficult to provide a backrest portion located
between the pair of push bars in a reclinable manner.
In such a baby carriage having sliding push bars as disclosed in
Japanese National Phase Publication Nos. 2001-525291 and 2005-522372 of
PCT applications, there is no member that becomes an obstacle on the back
of the pair of push bars. It is therefore possible to provide a backrest
portion in a reclinable manner. From this standpoint, it can be said that a
baby carriage having sliding push bars is preferable. In a baby carriage
having sliding push bars, however, it is difficult to provide a back cross
member that connects a pair of push bars with a pair of rear legs.
Improvement is therefore required for such a baby carriage to reduce the
size in the width direction in the folded state.
Japanese National Phase Publication No. 2005-522372 of PCT
applications does not include any description regarding reduction in size of
the baby carriage in the width direction in the folded state. Japanese
National Phase Publication No. 2001-525291 of PCT applications describes
that the baby carriage is reduced in size in the width direction when folded,
but does not describe any specific structure to implement such size
reduction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a foldable baby
carriage having sliding push bars, which is capable of implementing
reduction in size in a width direction in a folded state by a simple
structure.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a foldable
pushcart capable of implementing reduction in size in front-back and width
directions in a folded state by a simple structure.
A foldable pushcart according to one aspect of the present invention
is reduced in size in a front-back direction and a width direction when
folded, and includes: a pair of first vertical frame members extending in an
up-down direction in parallel with each other; a pair of second vertical
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frame members extending in the up-down direction in parallel with each
other and pivotally connected to upper parts of the pair of first vertical
frame members, respectively; a first cross member; and a pair of side frame
members. The first cross member includes two bar members crossing each
other in an X shape, and has its upper end slidably supported by the pair of
first vertical frame members and its lower end pivotally connected to the
pair of first vertical frame members. The pair of side frame members
extend in the front-back direction in parallel with each other, and has their
respective one ends pivotally connected to the upper end of the first cross
member, and their respective other ends pivotally connected to the pair of
second vertical frame members, respectively.
According to the pushcart having the above structure, by moving the
upper end of the first cross member upward, a width dimension of the first
cross member is decreased and the distance between the pair of first
vertical frame members is reduced. Moreover, the lower parts of the first
vertical frame members approach the lower parts of the second vertical
frame members through the pair of side frame members. Accordingly, the
size of the pushcart can be reduced in the front-back direction and the width
direction in the folded state.
Preferably, the pushcart further includes a second cross member
including two bar members crossing each other in an X shape, and having
its one end slidably supported by the pair of second vertical frame members
and its other end pivotally connected to the pair of first vertical frame
members.
A pushcart according to one embodiment further includes a pair of
third vertical frame members extending in the up-down direction so as to
partially overlap the pair of second vertical frame members, respectively,
and having their respective lower ends pivotally connected to the second
cross member.
A foldable pushcart according to another aspect of the present
invention is reduced in size in a front-back direction and a width direction
when folded and includes: a pair of first vertical frame members extending
in an up-down direction in parallel with each other; a pair of second vertical
frame members extending in the up-down direction in parallel with each
other and pivotally connected to upper parts of the pair of first vertical
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frame members, respectively; a first cross member; and a second cross
member. The first cross member includes two bar members crossing each
other in an X shape, and has its upper end slidably supported by the pair of
first vertical frame members and its lower end pivotally connected to the
pair of first vertical frame members. The second cross member includes
two bar members crossing each other in an X shape, and has its one end
slidably supported by the pair of second vertical frame members and its
other end pivotally connected to the pair of first vertical frame members.
A foldable baby carriage according to the present invention is
reduced in size in a height direction and a width direction when folded and
includes: a pair of front legs extending in an up-down direction and having
front wheels at their respective lower ends; a pair of rear legs extending in
the up-down direction and having rear wheels at their respective lower
ends; a pair of push bars extending in the up-down direction so as to
partially overlap the pair of front legs, respectively; a pair of connecting
members respectively fixed to upper ends of the pair of front legs; a pair of
guide sleeves respectively fixed to intermediate regions of the pair of front
legs; a pair of slide members provided slidably on upper regions of the pair
of rear legs, respectively; a back cross member; and a bottom cross member.
The pair of rear legs have their upper ends pivotally connected to
the pair of connecting members, respectively. The pair of push bars are
slidably held by the pair of connecting members and the pair of guide
sleeves, respectively. The back cross member includes two bar members
crossing each other in an X shape, and has its upper end pivotally connected
to the pair of slide members and its lower end pivotally connected to
respective lower regions of the pair of rear legs. The bottom cross member
includes two bar members crossing each other in an X shape, and has its
front end pivotally connected to the respective lower ends of the pair of push
bars and its rear end pivotally connected to respective intermediate regions
of the pair of rear legs.
In the baby carriage having the above structure, there is no obstacle
on the back of the pair of push bars which hinders reclining operation of a
backrest portion. Moreover, as the pair of push bars are moved downward,
a crossing angle between the bottom cross member and the back cross
member changes accordingly, and the respective distances between the pair
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of front legs, between the pair of rear legs, and between the pair of push
bars are reduced. The baby carriage can thus be reduced in size in the
height and width directions in the folded state.
In a preferred embodiment, the baby carriage further includes a pair
of support bars extending in a front-back direction and having their
respective front or intermediate regions pivotally connected to the pair of
front legs and their respective rear ends pivotally connected to the pair of
slide members, respectively.
Preferably, the baby carriage further includes an open-state lock
mechanism for fixing a crossing angle between the two bar members of the
back cross member in an open state of the baby carriage. More preferably,
the baby carriage further includes a push bar lock mechanism for fixing a
position of the push bars with respect to the front legs in an open state of
the baby carriage.
In a preferred embodiment, the baby carriage further includes a
handle member having an inverted U-shape for connecting respective upper
ends of the pair of push bars to each other. This handle member includes a
first handle arm having an L shape and having its one end fixed to the
upper end of one of the push bars, a second handle arm having an L shape
symmetric to that of the first handle arm and having its one end fixed to the
upper end of the other push bar, and a connecting mechanism for separably
connecting respective other ends of the first handle arm and the second
handle arm to each other.
In a more preferred embodiment, the baby carriage further includes
a canopy having its both ends in a width direction respectively connected to
and held by the pair of push bars at a position lower than the pair of
connecting members.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a body frame according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a baby carriage according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a side view of a canopied body frame according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
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Fig. 4 is a side view showing a folded state of the canopied body
frame according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a back view of a pair of push bars and a handle member;
Fig. 6 is a plan view of the handle member;
Fig. 7 is a back view of a pair of rear legs and a back cross member;
Fig. 8 is a back view of the pair of rear legs and the back cross
member in a folded state of the baby carriage;
Fig. 9 is a front view of a main part of a connecting mechanism for
separably connecting the first handle arm and the second handle arm to
each other;
Fig. 10 is a front view of a lock member;
Fig. 11 is a top cross-sectional view of the connecting mechanism;
Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a state in which the first handle arm
and the second handle arm are separated from each other;
Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating one form of "crossing each other in
an X shape";
Fig. 14 is a diagram illustrating another form of "crossing each other
in an X shape";
Fig. 15 is a side view showing an open state of a pushcart according
to another embodiment of the present invention; and
Fig. 16 is a side view showing a folded state of the pushcart
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figs. 1 through 4 show an overall structure of a foldable baby
carriage. Fig. 1 shows a body frame of the baby carriage. Fig. 2 shows the
baby carriage having a seat hammock 23, a canopy 17, and a storage bag 22
mounted thereto. Fig. 3 is a side view of the baby carriage in an open state.
Fig. 4 is a side view of the baby carriage in a folded state.
The baby carriage is reduced in size in height and width directions
when folded. The baby carriage includes, as main components of the body
frame, a pair of front legs 1, a pair of rear legs 4, a pair of push bars 5, a
handle member 6, a pair of seat support bars 10, a back cross member 8,
and a bottom cross member 9.
Each front leg 1 extends in an up-down direction and has a front
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wheel at its lower end and a connecting member 2 at its upper end. Each
connecting member 2 is fixed to the corresponding front leg 1 and has a
cylindrical body 2a in its front part and a projecting portion 2b in its rear
part. A guide sleeve 3 is fixedly attached to an intermediate region of each
front leg 1. Each guide sleeve 3 has a cylindrical body 3a in its front part.
Each rear leg 4 extends in the up-down direction and has a rear
wheel at its lower end. An upper end of each rear leg 4 is pivotally
connected to the projecting portion 2b of the corresponding connecting
member 2 fixed to the corresponding front leg 1. As the baby carriage is
folded, each rear leg 4 pivots in a direction approaching the corresponding
front leg 1. In the folded state shown in Fig. 4, each rear leg 4 and each
front leg 1 are located in parallel with each other, and the rear wheels are
located above the front wheels.
Each push bar 5 extends in the up-down direction so that a lower
region thereof overlaps the corresponding front leg 1. Each push bar 5 is
slidably held by the cylindrical bodies 2a, 3a of the connecting member 2
and the guide sleeve 3 that are fixed to the corresponding front leg 1. As
the baby carriage is folded, each push bar 5 slides downwards on the
corresponding front leg 1. In the folded state shown in Fig. 1, a lower end
of each push bar 5 abuts on the ground. The lower ends of the push bars 5
and the front wheels which are in contact with the ground enable
selfstanding of the baby carriage in the folded state.
Respective upper ends of the pair of push bars 5 are connected to
each other by the inverted U-shaped handle member 6. As shown in Figs.
5 and 6, the handle member 6 has an L-shaped first handle arm 61 having
its one end fixed to the upper end of one push bar 5 and an L-shaped second
handle arm 62 having its one end fixed to the upper end of the other push
bar 5. The other end of the first handle arm 61 and the other end of the
second handle arm 62 are separably connected to each other by a connecting
mechanism. This structure will be described later in more detail with
reference mainly to Figs. 9 to 12.
Figs. 7 and 8 are back views of the pair of rear legs 4 and the back
.cross member 8. Fig. 7 shows an open state of the baby carriage and Fig. 8
shows a folded state of the baby carriage. A pair of slide members 7 are
slidably provided on upper regions of the pair of rear legs 4, respectively.
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Each slide member 7 slides upward on the corresponding rear leg 4 as the
baby carriage is folded.
The back cross member 8 includes a first bar member 81 and a
second bar member 82 which cross each other in an X shape. The first bar
member 81 and the second bar member 82 have their upper ends pivotally
connected to the pair of slide members 7 and their lower ends pivotally
connected to lower regions of the pair of rear legs 4, respectively. The first
bar member 81 and the second bar member 82 are pivotally connected to
each other at the crossing portion. As can be seen from Figs. 7 and 8, in
the folded state of the baby carriage, the distance between upper and lower
ends of the back cross member 8 is longer and the distance between the pair
of rear legs 4 is shorter than in the open state of the baby carriage.
As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the bottom cross member 9 includes a
first bar member 91 and a second bar member 92 which cross each other in
an X shape. The first bar member 91 and the second bar member 92 have
their front ends pivotally connected to the lower ends of the pair of push
bars 5 and their rear ends pivotally connected to intermediate regions of the
pair of rear legs 4, respectively. As the baby carriage is folded and the pair
of push bars 5 move downwards along the front legs 1, the front ends of the
bottom cross member 9 connected to the lower ends of the push bars 5 also
move downward accordingly. As a result, the pair of rear legs 4 connected
to the rear ends of the bottom cross member 9 are pivoted toward the front
legs 1. With increase in the amount of downward movement of the lower
ends of the push bars 5, the distance between the front and rear ends of the
bottom cross member 9 increases, and the distance between the pair of front
legs 1 and the distance between the pair of rear legs 4 therefore decrease.
The pair of seat support bars 10 extend in a front-back direction so
as to support a seat portion of the seat hammock 23. The seat support bars
10 has their front or intermediate regions pivotally connected to the pair of
front legs 1 and their rear ends pivotally connected to the pair of slide
members 7, respectively. As the baby carriage is folded, the slide members
7 move upward on the rear legs 4. As a result, the seat support bars 10
pivot counterclockwise in Fig. 3. In the folded state of the baby carriage,
the seat support members 10 are located along the inner side of the front
legs 1.
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As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the back cross member 8 has an
open-state lock mechanism 11 for fixing a crossing angle between the first
bar member 81 and the second bar member 82 in the open state of the baby
carriage. The open-state lock mechanism 11 includes a first link bar 12
having its one end pivotally connected to the second bar member 82, a
second link bar 13 having its one end pivotally connected to the first bar
member 81, and an operation member 14. In the open state of the baby
carriage, the first link bar 12 and the second link bar 13 are fixed at a
position slightly beyond a change point, whereby the crossing angle between
the first bar member 81 and the second bar member 82 is fixed. In order to
fold the baby carriage, the operation member 14 is pulled up with hand so
that the first link bar 12 and the second link bar 13 are bent upward.
As shown in Fig. 3, each connecting member 2 fixed to the upper end
of the corresponding front leg 1 has an operation button 24 having a lock pin.
Each push bar 50 has a lock hole for receiving the lock pin at least in the
open state of the baby carriage. The lock pin of the operation button 24
and the lock hole formed in the push bar 5 form a push bar lock mechanism
for fixing the position of the push bar with respect to the front leg in the
open state of the baby carriage. By operating the operation button 24 so as
to disengage the lock pin and the lock hole from each other, the push bar 5
becomes slidable along the front leg 1.
As shown in Fig. 1, respective lower parts of the pair of front legs 1
are connected to each other by a footrest member 15 that is bendable in the
middle. In the open state of the baby carriage, the footrest member 15
extends approximately linearly along the width direction. In the folded
state of the baby carriage, on the other hand, the footrest member 15 is bent
into a V-shape.
As can be seen from Fig. 3, the canopy 17 has its both ends in the
width direction respectively connected to and held by the pair of push bars 5
at a position lower than the pair of connecting members 2. More
specifically, each push bar 5 has a canopy support sleeve 16 fixed at a
position lower than the respective connecting member 2. The canopy 17
includes canopy ribs 18, 19 pivotally held by the canopy support sleeves 16,
and a canopy cloth 20 provided between the plurality of canopy ribs. In the
illustrated embodiment, the canopy 17 has a dome shape and includes the
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first canopy rib 18 and the second canopy rib 19. The first canopy rib 18
and the second canopy rib 19 have such a structure that, or are made of
such a material that, can reduce the distance in the width direction when
the baby carriage is folded.
In the illustrated embodiment, the canopy 17 includes
opening-angle fixing means 21 on its right and left sides for fixing an
opening angle between the first canopy rib 81 and the second canopy rib 82.
The opening-angle fixing means 21 includes a first link plate 21a having its
one end connected to the first canopy rib 18, a second link plate 21b having
its one end connected to the second canopy rib 19, and an operation knob
21c for moving the first and second link plates 21a, 21b into a bent position
in order to fold the canopy.
The canopy 17 has its both ends respectively supported by the
canopy support sleeves 16 fixed to the pair of push bars 5. Therefore, as
the baby carriage is folded and the pair of push bars 5 move downward, the
canopy 17 also moves downward accordingly. In the folded state of the
baby carriage shown in Fig. 4, the canopy 17 is also folded. In the
illustrated embodiment, the canopy 17 thus moves downward together with
the push bars 5 even with the canopy 17 kept attached to the body of the
baby carriage. The height of the baby carriage in the folded state can thus
be reduced.
In the baby carriages disclosed in Japanese Utility Model
Publication No. S45(1970)-13549 of examined applications and Japanese
Patent Publication No. H07(1995)-12824 of examined applications, upper
ends of the pair of push bars are free ends. A certain amount of wobbling of
the push bars is unavoidable. Such wobbling of the push bars can be
reduced by providing a handle member connecting upper ends of the pair of
push bars. In this case, in order to reduce the dimension in the width
direction in the folded state of the baby carriage, the handle member is
typically formed by a plurality of members that are pivotally connected to
each other. In this structure, the handle member is bent at the joint
between the members, whereby the distance between the pair of push bars
is reduced. When such a bendable joint is present, however, the baby
carriage becomes shaky at the joint in the open state of the baby carriage.
The body frame therefore does not have sufficient rigidity.
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In the embodiment of the present invention, the handle member 6
connecting the upper ends of the pair of push bars 5 has a characteristic
structure in order to improve the rigidity of the body frame of the baby
carriage in the open state. More specifically, in the illustrated embodiment,
the first handle arm 61 and the second handle arm 62 of the handle member
6 are separably connected by the connecting mechanism. This structure
will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 9 through 12.
As shown in Figs. 6 and 11, an inner end of the first handle arm 61
includes a thinned portion having a reduced thickness, and an inner end of
the second handle arm 62 also has a thinned portion having a reduced
thickness. These thinned portions are separably connected by the
connecting mechanism.
The connecting mechanism includes a fixed shaft 63 fixed to the
inner end of the first handle arm 61, a shaft receiving space 64 formed in
the inner end of the second handle arm 62 so as to receive the fixed shaft 63,
and a lock member 65. The fixed shaft 63 protrudes toward the rear of the
baby carriage and includes a head portion 63a having a larger diameter and
a neck portion 63b having a smaller diameter.
As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the lock member 65 has a flat, plate-like
shape that is long in the up-down direction, and has a through hole 66 in
the middle. The through hole 66 has a large-diameter hole 66a located on
the upper side and having a larger diameter, and a small-diameter hole 66b
formed so as to overlap a lower part of the large-diameter hole 66a and
having a smaller diameter. The diameter of the large-diameter hole 66a is
larger than that of the head portion 63a of the fixed shaft 63, and the
diameter of the small-diameter hole 66b is smaller than that of the head
portion 63a of the fixed shaft 63 and is slightly larger than that of the neck
portion 63b.
The lock member 65 is located within the shaft receiving space 64 of
the second handle arm 62. The operation member 67 is fixed to an upper
end of the lock member 65. The operation member 67 protrudes upward
from and is exposed from the top surface of the inner end of the second
handle arm 62. As shown in Fig. 9, a biasing member 68 for constantly
biasing the lock member 65 upward is provided between a lower end of the
lock member 65 and a bottom wall portion of the second handle arm 62. In
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the illustrated embodiment, the biasing member 68 is a coiled spring.
In the state of Fig. 9, the neck portion 63b of the fixed shaft 63 fixed
to the first handle arm 61 fits in the small-diameter hole 66b of the lock
member 65 supported by the second handle arm 62. This engaged state is
maintained by the biasing force of the biasing member 68. The lock
member 65 is interposed between the head portion 63a of the fixed shaft 63
and the first handle arm 61. The first handle arm 61 and the second
handle arm 62 are therefore in a fixedly connected state. This state
corresponds to the open state of the baby carriage.
In order to fold the baby carriage, the operation member 67 is
pressed down to move the lock member 65 to a lower position. In this
position, the large-diameter hole 66a of the lock member 65 is aligned with
the head portion 63a of the fixed shaft 63. Accordingly, by moving the
inner end of the first handle arm 61 forward relative to the inner end of the
second handle arm 62, the head portion 63a of the fixed shaft 63 passes
through the large-diameter hole 66a of the lock member 65 and the first
handle arm 61 and the second handle arm 62 are separated from each other.
Fig. 12 shows a state in which the first handle arm 61 and the second
handle arm 62 are separated from each other in the folded state of the baby
carriage. Since the distance between the pair of push bars 5 is reduced,
the first handle arm 61 moves to the left in the figure and the second handle
arm 63 moves to the right in the figure.
The folding operation of the baby carriage will be described step by
step. First, the operation member 67 located in the middle of the handle
member 6 is pressed down to separate the first handle arm. 61 and the
second handle arm 62 from each other. The operation member 14 of the
open-state lock mechanism 11 attached to the back cross member 8 is then
pulled up. Next, the operation buttons 24 supported by the connecting
members 2 are operated to disengage the lock pin and the lock hole from
each other, and the pair of push bars 5 are then moved downward.
Note that, in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention,
the back cross member and the bottom cross member are structured so that
two bar members "cross each other in an X shape" as shown in Fig. 13. It
should be understood that the phrase "cross each other in an X shape" in the
present invention is not limited to the typical shape shown in Fig. 13 but
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includes a shape including a plurality of X crossing portions as shown in Fig.
14.
Moreover, in the illustrated embodiment, the respective upper ends
of the pair of push bars are separably connected to each other through the
connecting mechanism. In another embodiment, however, the respective
upper ends of the pair of push bars may be always separated from each
other without being connected together.
The present invention is applicable also to a pushcart having a
broad meaning including a baby carriage, a load-carrying cart, and the like.
Figs. 15 and 16 are side views showing another embodiment of the
present invention. Fig. 15 shows an open state of a pushcart, and Fig. 16
shows a folded state of the pushcart. The pushcart is reduced in size in
front-back and width directions when folded.
The pushcart shown in Figs. 15 and 16 includes a pair of first
vertical frame members 101 extending in an up-down direction in parallel
with each other, a pair of second vertical frame members 102 extending in
the up-down direction in parallel with each other and pivotally connected to
upper parts of the pair of first vertical frame members 101 through
connecting members 105, respectively, a first cross member 103, and a pair
of side frame members 104. A rear wheel 108 is attached to a lower end of
each first vertical frame member 101, and a front wheel 107 is attached to a
lower end of each second vertical frame member 102.
As in the above embodiment, the first cross member 103 includes
two bar members that cross each other in an X shape. The two bar
members have their respective upper ends slidably supported by the pair of
first vertical frame members 101 through a pair of slide members 106,
respectively, and have their respective lower ends pivotally connected to
lower parts of the pair of first vertical frame members 101, respectively.
The pair of side frame members 104 extend in the front-back
direction in parallel with each other. The pair of side frame members 104
have their respective one ends pivotally connected to an upper end of the
first cross member 103 through the pair of slide members 106, respectively,
and have their respective other ends pivotally connected to the pair of
second vertical frame members 102, respectively.
In order to fold the pushcart, the pair of slide members 106 are
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moved upward. As the slide members 106 are moved upward, the width
dimension of the first cross member 103 is reduced and the distance
between the pair of first vertical frame members 101 is reduced. Moreover,
since the respective rear ends of the pair of side frame members 104 move
upward together with the slide members 106, the respective lower parts of
the pair of second vertical frame portions 102 are pulled toward the lower
parts of the pair of first vertical frame members 101 by the pair of side
frame members 104. The pushcart is thus reduced in size in the front-back
and width directions in the folded state.
The pushcart of the embodiment shown in Figs. 15 and 16 may
further include a second cross member as in the above embodiment of the
baby carriage. The second cross member includes two bar members
crossing each other in an X shape. The two bar members have their
respective one ends slidably supported by the pair of second vertical frame
members 102, respectively, and their respective other ends pivotally
connected to the pair of first vertical frame members 101, respectively.
The pushcart may further include a pair of third vertical frame
members as in the above embodiment of the baby carriage. The pair of
third vertical frame members extend in the up-down direction so as to
partially overlap the pair of second vertical frame members, respectively,
and respective lower ends of the pair of third vertical frame members are
pivotally connected to the second cross member. In a folding operation of
the pushcart of this embodiment, the respective lower ends of the third
vertical frame members and one end of the second cross member slide
downward along the second vertical frame members 102.
As a modification of the embodiment shown in Figs. 15 and 16, the
pair of side frame members 104 may be omitted and a second cross member
may be provided. The second cross member includes two bar members
crossing each other in an X shape. The two bar members have their
respective one ends slidably supported by the pair of second vertical frame
members 102, respectively, and their respective other ends pivotally
connected to the pair of first vertical frame members 101, respectively.
Although embodiments of the present invention have been described
above with reference to the figures, the present invention is not limited to
the above described and illustrated embodiments. Various modifications
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and variations can be made to the above described and illustrated
embodiments within the same scope as, or an equivalent scope to, the
present invention.
The present invention can be advantageously used as a foldable
pushcart that is reduced in size in front-back and width directions when
folded, or as a foldable baby carriage that is reduced in size in height and
width directions when folded.
