GB2196908A

GB2196908A - Foldable baby carriage

Info

Publication number: GB2196908A
Application number: GB08723317A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Charles Hawkes
Original assignee: Andrews Maclaren Ltd
Current assignee: Andrews Maclaren Ltd
Priority date: 1986-10-03
Filing date: 1987-10-05
Publication date: 1988-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 2007-10-05
Also published as: GB2196908B; GB8723317D0

Abstract

The frame 2 is braced in an erected position and can be "broken" and collapsed by pivoting in a fore and aft direction to fold the carriage frame means down on itself for transport or stowage. To achieve this action, a hook means 3 on a member 4 connected to a front frame 5 is held by a spigot 6 of a pivoted lever 7. A strut 8 extends from a rear frame part 9, a spigot 10 on the member 4 projecting through a slot 11 in a slidable sleeve 12 of the strut. To collapse the frame, the lever 7 is moved (arrow "A") to release the hook 3, the slide 12 is pulled up (arrow "B") and the handle 13 is pushed in the direction of arrow "C". The member 4 thus moves rearwardly, drawing the frame part 5 with it, to a position where the front and rear wheels 14, 15 are adjacent. To erect the frame, the handle is moved in direction "D" so that the hook 3 is engaged by spigot 6. A device to prevent swivelling of a bogie bearing the front wheels of the carriage is also disclosed, and comprises a stirrup 19 which may be moved from the inoperative position shown, by upward movement of part 24, to a locked position in which a detent on stirrup 19 engages a notch in wheel bearing 22, thus locking a wheel which would be secured on spigot 23 from movement. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A baby carriage The invention relates to a baby carriage, pushchair or buggy, particularly for the transportation of infants.

Such buggies are often of the kind which collapse both laterally and/or in a longitudinally folding manner in order to provide a collapsed condition which renders the buggy readily stowable or transportable when the infant is not seated in it.

According to one aspect of the invention there is a foldable frame for a wheeled carriage, comprising pivotably connected fore and rear frame parts and a releasable catch means for maintaining the frame erected, wherein the catch means comprises a hook means on one frame part and a pivotable detent for the hook means on a further frame part the arrangement being that when the hook means and detent are engaged, the frame is erected.

The detent may comprise a pivotable lever which may be substantially horizontal in the erected position and a spigot with which the hook means engages.

The hook means may comprise a lower, in use, end of a rear member of the frame.

There may be a strut means extending between the rear member of the frame and a rear leg of the frame.

The strut means may comprise a slide which may have a slot therethrough and a spigot on the rear member projecting through the slot, and the slide may be biassed by biassing means to engage the spigot in the erected position.

The wheels may be swivelable.

There may be a device to lock the wheels in a fore and aft direction.

The device may comprise a pivotable stirrup which engages a bearing for the wheels and prevents swelling of the bearing.

The invention may extend to a baby carriage, push-chair or buggy, including a foldable frame as herein before defined.

A baby carriage embodying the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a baby carriage according to the invention in the erected position.

Figures 2-4 show to a larger scale a device to prevent swivelling of the wheels of the carriage.

Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown a baby carriage 1 having a foldable frame means 2 which is braced in an erected position and can be "broken" and collapsed by pivoting in a fore and aft direction to fold the carriage frame means down on itself for transport or stowage.

To achieve this action, a hook means 3 on a member 4 is connected to a front frame part member 5 is held by a spigot 6 of a lever 7. A strut 8 extends between a rear frame part 9, a spigot 10 on the part 4 projecting through a slot 11 in a slidable sleeve of the strut.

In use, to collapse the frame means 2, the lever 7 is depressed by foot or hand pressure (arrow A), so releasing the hook means 3.

The slide 12 is pulled up (arrow B) against pressure of a spring at the same time as handle means 13 is pushed forwardly (arrow C).

This action pivots the member 4 rearwardly passed the strut 8 and so drawing the front frame part 5 rearwardly, the hook 3 passing under the slide 12 and to the front wheels 14 ending up adjacent the rear wheels 15, the seat part 16 pivoting in a bracket 17. To erect the carriage, it is merely necessary to pull the handle up, in direction of arrow D, so that the hook 3 engages the spigot 6 of the lever 7 to lock the frame means erected 2.

The front wheels 4 which usually swivel, can be locked in a fore and aft position by the deviced 18 shown in Figs. 2 to 4. The device comprises a horizontally pivotable stirrup 19 which has a detent 20 for engaging a notch or recess 21 in a bearing 22 for the wheel (not shown and which is connected to the bearing by spigot 23 which engages in a socket of a bogie mounting the wheel). The stirrup is of U-shape and has a rear extension 24 which can be toe-operated for pivoting from the operative, non swivelling position of Fig. 2 down, over-centre, to the inoperative, fully swivelable position of the wheel shown in Fig. 4. An upward movement on extension 24 restores the device to the Fig. 2 position in which the front wheels cannot swivel.

1. A foldable frame for a wheeled carriage, comprising pivotably connected fore and rear frame parts and a releasable catch means for maintaining the frame erected, wherein the catch means comprises a hook means on one frame part and a pivotable detent for the hook means on a further frame part the arrangement being that when the hook means and detent are engaged, the frame is erected.

2. A foldable frame according to Claim 1, the detent comprising a pivotable lever which is substantially horizontal in the erected position and a spigot with which the hook means engages.

3. A foldable frame according to Claim 2, the hook means comprising a lower, in use, end of a rear member of the frame.

4. A foldable frame according to Claim 3, there being a strut means extending between the rear member of the frame and a rear leg of the frame.

5. A foldable frame according to Claim 4, the strut means comprising a slide which has a slot therethrough and a spigot on the rear

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A baby carriage The invention relates to a baby carriage, pushchair or buggy, particularly for the transportation of infants. Such buggies are often of the kind which collapse both laterally and/or in a longitudinally folding manner in order to provide a collapsed condition which renders the buggy readily stowable or transportable when the infant is not seated in it. According to one aspect of the invention there is a foldable frame for a wheeled carriage, comprising pivotably connected fore and rear frame parts and a releasable catch means for maintaining the frame erected, wherein the catch means comprises a hook means on one frame part and a pivotable detent for the hook means on a further frame part the arrangement being that when the hook means and detent are engaged, the frame is erected. The detent may comprise a pivotable lever which may be substantially horizontal in the erected position and a spigot with which the hook means engages. The hook means may comprise a lower, in use, end of a rear member of the frame. There may be a strut means extending between the rear member of the frame and a rear leg of the frame. The strut means may comprise a slide which may have a slot therethrough and a spigot on the rear member projecting through the slot, and the slide may be biassed by biassing means to engage the spigot in the erected position. The wheels may be swivelable. There may be a device to lock the wheels in a fore and aft direction. The device may comprise a pivotable stirrup which engages a bearing for the wheels and prevents swelling of the bearing. The invention may extend to a baby carriage, push-chair or buggy, including a foldable frame as herein before defined. A baby carriage embodying the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a baby carriage according to the invention in the erected position. Figures 2-4 show to a larger scale a device to prevent swivelling of the wheels of the carriage. Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown a baby carriage 1 having a foldable frame means 2 which is braced in an erected position and can be "broken" and collapsed by pivoting in a fore and aft direction to fold the carriage frame means down on itself for transport or stowage. To achieve this action, a hook means 3 on a member 4 is connected to a front frame part member 5 is held by a spigot 6 of a lever 7. A strut 8 extends between a rear frame part 9, a spigot 10 on the part 4 projecting through a slot 11 in a slidable sleeve of the strut. In use, to collapse the frame means 2, the lever 7 is depressed by foot or hand pressure (arrow A), so releasing the hook means 3. The slide 12 is pulled up (arrow B) against pressure of a spring at the same time as handle means 13 is pushed forwardly (arrow C). This action pivots the member 4 rearwardly passed the strut 8 and so drawing the front frame part 5 rearwardly, the hook 3 passing under the slide 12 and to the front wheels 14 ending up adjacent the rear wheels 15, the seat part 16 pivoting in a bracket 17. To erect the carriage, it is merely necessary to pull the handle up, in direction of arrow D, so that the hook 3 engages the spigot 6 of the lever 7 to lock the frame means erected 2. The front wheels 4 which usually swivel, can be locked in a fore and aft position by the deviced 18 shown in Figs. 2 to 4. The device comprises a horizontally pivotable stirrup 19 which has a detent 20 for engaging a notch or recess 21 in a bearing 22 for the wheel (not shown and which is connected to the bearing by spigot 23 which engages in a socket of a bogie mounting the wheel). The stirrup is of U-shape and has a rear extension 24 which can be toe-operated for pivoting from the operative, non swivelling position of Fig. 2 down, over-centre, to the inoperative, fully swivelable position of the wheel shown in Fig. 4. An upward movement on extension 24 restores the device to the Fig. 2 position in which the front wheels cannot swivel. CLAIMS

5. A foldable frame according to Claim 4, the strut means comprising a slide which has a slot therethrough and a spigot on the rear member projecting through the slot, the slide being biassed by biassing means to engage the spigot in the erected position.

6. A foldable frame according to any preceding claim, the wheels being swivelable.

7. A foldable frame according to Claim 6, there including a device to lock the wheels in a fore and aft direction.

8. A foldable frame according to Claim 7, the device comprising a pivotable stirrup which engages a bearing for the wheels and prevents swelling of the bearing.

9. A foldable frame for a wheeled carriage, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A baby carriage, push-chair or buggy, including a foldable frame according to any preceding claim.