GB2290269A

GB2290269A - Collapsible carriage for infant carriage

Info

Publication number: GB2290269A
Application number: GB9512083A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ramon Jane Cabagnero
Original assignee: Jane SA
Current assignee: Jane SA
Priority date: 1994-06-17
Filing date: 1995-06-14
Publication date: 1995-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 2015-06-14
Also published as: PT9178U; GB9512083D0; ES1028379U; ES1028379Y; GB2290269B; PT9178T

Abstract

A collapsible chassis for an infant carriage comprises a handlebar assembly slidably mounted on front legs (3) by means of a guide (12) to which an arm (14) is connected. The arm (14) is pivotally connected to a rear leg (11) of the chassis and a coil spring (17) is provided at the connection (16) between the leg (11) and arm (14). The spring is arranged to urge the chassis from the folded to the unfolded position. A catch in the form of a dual hook (4, 4') is attached to each arm of the handle bar assembly and is arranged to engage a first lug 6 on an upper part of the corresponding front leg in order to secure the infant carriage from unfolding and to engage another lug 6' on a lower pant of the corresponding front leg in order to secure the infant carriage in its folded position, the hook thereby having a dual function in securing the chassis from movement in two opposite directions. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: COLLAPSIBLE CHASSIS FOR INFANT CARRIAGES The present invention relates to a collapsible chassis for an infant carriage.

It is an aim of this invention to achieve in a simple and practical manner the locking of the chassis in a collapsed or folded position. Another aim is to achieve unfolding of the infant carriage in an automatic fashion.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a collapsible chassis for an infant carriage having handle bar assemblies slidably mounted on front legs, wherein a catch in the form of a hook is attached to each arm of the handle bars and is arranged to engage a first lug on an upper part of the corresponding front leg in order to secure the infant carriage from unfolding and to engage a second lug on a lower part of the corresponding front leg in order to secure the infant carriage in its folded position, each of said hooks thereby having a dual function in securing the chassis from movement in two opposite directions.

The invention is particularly applicable to a collapsible chassis for an infant carriage which includes U-shaped handle bar assemblies slidably mounted on the front legs and performing a sliding motion over the front legs by means of a clamp or guide at which the corresponding rear leg is connected.

Another aspect of the invention provides a collapsible chassis for an infant carriage having a handle bar assembly slidably mounted on front legs by means of respective guides to each of which a respective arm is connected, wherein each arm is pivotally connected to a respective rear leg of the chassis, a respective coil spring being provided at the connection between each arm and leg, and wherein one end of each spring is anchored to the associated arm and the other end of each spring is attached to the associated rear leg, said springs being in tension in the folded position of the chassis in such a manner that upon releasing said position the springs retract and automatically unfold the infant carriage.

The invention will now be described in detail and by way of example with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows the enlarged central part of a chassis for an infant carriage according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a spring assembly forming part of the chassis shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 illustrates the central part of the chassis shown in Fig. 1 but in the folded position; Figs. 4 and 5 show in enlarged section and plan views respectively, the position of a catch in the locked unfolded position of the chassis shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is a partly-sectioned plan view showing the position of the catch in the locked folded position of the chassis.

Referring to the drawings, a collapsible chassis for an infant carriage comprises tubular U-shaped handle bars with two arms 1, each of which has a safety catch 2 (Figs. 4 to 6), which are respectively connected to the upper ends of front legs 3 of the carriage with the arms 1 sliding over the legs 3 during folding of the chassis (Fig. 3).

Each catch 2 includes a dual hook 4, 4' which is generally L-shaped and is pivotally mounted at its vertex on a pin S to the respective arm 1 on the underside surface of the latter. The hook is engageable with either of two lugs 6, 6' provided, respectively, on the upper and lower parts of the associated front leg 3. The hooks can be activated, for example, by means of a cable from the handle bars or can be released in any other suitable manner in order to free the lugs 6 or 6', on the upper and lower parts of the associated front legs 3.The hooks are held in engagement with the lugs 6 or 6' in the locked safety catch position by respective springs 7 which are connected at one end to the respective hook and at the other end to a respective protective plate 9 which plates cover the upper area of the associated front legs and are open below to form lobes 10 to which the rear legs 11 of the chassis are joined.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the safety catch 2 is hooked on the lug 6 in order to lock the chassis in its unfolded position as illustrated in Fig. 1. Upon separating the hook 4 from the lug 6 and sliding the handle bars downward, the chassis is folded into the position illustrated in Fig. 3, in which position it is retained by engagement of the hook 4' with the lug 6' (Fig. 6); During folding of the chassis, the arms 1 are guided by respective clamps 12 through which they slide. Each clamp 12 is connected by a pin 13 to the upper end of a respective arm 14 of a U-shaped transverse element, the lower regions of said arms being pivotally connected by a respective pivot pin 16 to the lower part of the associated rear leg 11 of the chassis.

On each of these pins 16 is mounted a respective helical spring 17 which is located between the arms 14 and legs 11 (Fig. 2). One end of each spring 17 is anchored to the associated leg 11 and the other end of each spring is anchored to the associated arm 14. These springs, upon folding the chassis from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 3, remain in tension by bringing their ends close to one another, and upon releasing the hooks 4' with respect to the lugs 6', said springs retract producing automatic unfolding of the chassis from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 1 and the chassis is retained in the latter position by the engagement of the hooks 4 on the lugs 6 of the front legs 1.

Two lateral crossbars 19 are provided, each having means for attaching a removable seat over them, a carrycot, or a seat which can be converted into a carrycot.

It is understood that both the means of locking and unlocking the chassis from the folded and unfolded positions, as well as the presence of the springs for automatic unfolding can be applied together or individually to the chassis with different structures and folding arrangements from those illustrated in the drawings.

It should also be noted that the invention is not restricted to the above-described and illustrated embodiment but that variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention so that one can fabricate a collapsible chassis for infant carriages, in whatever form and size, with the most adequate means and materials and with the most suitable accessories, the component elements being able to be substituted for others which are technically equivalent.

Claims

1. A collapsible chassis for an infant carriage having handle bar assemblies slidably mounted on front legs, wherein a catch in the form of a hook is attached to each arm of the handle bars and is arranged to engage a first lug on an upper part of the corresponding front leg in order to secure the infant carriage from unfolding and to engage a second lug on a lower part of the corresponding front leg in order to secure the infant carriage in its folded position, each of said hooks thereby having a dual function in securing the chassis from movement in two opposite directions.

2. A collapsible chassis for an infant carriage according to claim 1, wherein each of the front legs of the chassis is mounted in a respective guide and wherein a respective arm is pivotally connected to each guide and to a respective rear leg of the chassis, a respective coil spring being provided at the connection between each arm and leg.

3. A collapsible chassis according to claim 2, wherein one end of each spring is anchored to the associated arm and the other end of the spring is anchored to the associated leg, the arrangement being such that the springs urge the chassis from its folded to its unfolded position.

4. A collapsible chassis for an infant carriage having a handle bar assembly slidably mounted on front legs by means of respective guides to each of which a respective arm is connected, wherein each arm is pivotally connected to a respective rear leg of the chassis, a respective coil spring being provided at the connection between each arm and leg, and wherein one end of each spring is anchored to the associated arm and the other end of each spring is attached to the associated rear leg, said springs being in tension in the folded position of the chassis in such a manner that upon releasing said position the springs retract and automatically unfold the infant carriage.

5. A collapsible chassis according to claim 4, wherein the handle bar assembly comprises a pair of arms and wherein a catch in the form of a hook is attached to each arm of the handle bar assembly and is arranged to engage a first lug on an upper part of the corresponding front leg in order to secure the infant carriage from unfolding and to engage a second lug on a lower part of the corresponding front leg in order to secure the infant carriage in its folded position, each of said hooks thereby having a dual function in securing the chassis from movement in two opposite directions.

6. A collapsible chassis for an infant carriage substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.