GB2480655A

GB2480655A - Convertible carrier stroller

Info

Publication number: GB2480655A
Application number: GB1008831A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Bell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-05-27
Filing date: 2010-05-27
Publication date: 2011-11-30
Anticipated expiration: 2030-05-27
Also published as: GB2480655B; GB201008831D0

Abstract

A convertible carrier stroller 10 comprises an at least in part collapsible support frame 12, a child seat element 14 supported by the support frame 12, a back support 16 on the support frame 12 for contact with a carer's back, and shoulder straps for engagement with a carer's shoulders. The support frame 12 includes a front strut element 48 which rotatably supports at least one front wheel 76, a rear strut element 52 which rotatably supports at least one rear wheel, a central strut element 50 which is between the front and rear strut elements 48, 52, and a pivot hub 58 which is mounted on the central strut element 50. The pivot hub 58 interconnects the front and rear strut elements 48, 52. The front strut element 48 is angularly fixed relative to the pivot hub 58, and the central and rear strut element 48, 52 are angularly displaceable relative to the pivot hub 58.

Description

I

Convertible Carrier Stroller The present invention relates to a child carrying device, particularly but not necessarily exclusively for a baby, infant and/or toddler, which is convertible from a pushable or pullable stroller to a back-mountable carrier for carrying on a carer's back whilst the child remains seated thereon.

It is often the case that a carer, such as a parent, and young child need to walk on rough or uneven ground. If the child has no or limited ambulatory skills, then a stroller, also known as a pushchair or baby buggy, is typically used for flat or smooth area and a back-mountable carrier is then used for more difficult terrain. However, this then means that two separate devices must be employed and transported during the trip. In many cases, this is not feasible, and thus the trip is curtailed or not even undertaken.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.

According to the present invention, there is provided a convertible carrier stroller comprising an at least in part collapsible support frame, a child seat element supported by the support frame, a back support on the support frame for contact with a carer' s back, and shoulder straps for engagement with a carer's shoulders, the support frame including a front strut element rotatably supporting at least one front wheel, a rear strut element rotatably supporting at least one rear wheel, a central strut element which is between the front and rear strut elements, and a pivot hub which is mounted on the central strut element, the pivot hub interconnecting the front and rear strut elements, the front strut element being angularly fixed relative to the pivot hub, and the central and rear strut elements being angularly displaceable relative to the pivot hub.

Preferable and/or optional features of the invention are set forth in claims 2 to 16, inclusive.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of one embodiment of a convertible carrier stroller, erected into its stroller condition and in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the convertible carrier stroller shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevational side view of the convertible carrier stroller; Figure 4 shows an exploded view of a pivot hub of the convertible carrier stroller; Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the assembled pivot hub but with one side removed for clarity; Figure 6 is a front perspective view of the convertible carrier stroller, shown collapsed into its carrier condition; and Figure 7 is a rear perspective view of the collapsed convertible carrier stroller shown in Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a convertible carrier stroller 10 which comprises a support frame 12, a child seat element 14, a back support 16, a pair of adjustable shoulder straps (not shown), and six wheels 18. The support frame 12 preferably includes rigid light-weight, typically metal or plastics, hollow tube members interconnected by, preferably moulded plastics, angle joints 22. The support frame 12 comprises two parallel and spaced primary strut members 24 which support the child seat element 14. A rigid tubular U-shaped seat member 26 is hingably connected partway along the primary strut members 24. Collapsible sides 28, for example, being fabric, of the child seat element 14 extend from the primary strut members 24 to the seat member 26. A preferably padded back member 30 of the child seat element 14 spans between the two primary strut members 24.

The back support 16 is preferably padded and at least in part flexible to accommodate the curvature of a carer's back and spine. The two primary strut members 24 are smoothly curved so as to be substantially swan-neck shaped. A lower portion 32 of each primary strut member 24 extends in a plane which includes a cross-bar 34 of the seat member 26. The back support 16 thus extends tautly from a connection spanning between the lower portions 32 of the primary strut members 24 to the cross-bar 34 of the seat member 26. The planar arrangement allows the carrier stroller 10 to sit comfortably against the user's shoulders, upper back and lower back.

A squab member 36 of the child seat element 14 extends from a lower edge of the back member 30 to the back support 16. In this way, leg openings 38 are provided for the child between the squab member 36 and the rigid hingable seat member 26.

The adjustable shoulder straps extend from the cross-bar 34 of the seat member 26 to the lower portions 32 of the primary strut members 24. The shoulder straps have an adjustable length to accommodate differently sized users, and are preferably padded.

A handle 40 extends from upper portions 42 of the primary strut members 24. The handle 40, in this case, extends between the two primary strut members 24 and is telescopically slidably receivable in the upper portions 42 of the primary strut members 24. A releasable fastener 44 is provided, preferably at the ends of the upper portions 42 of the primary strut members 24, for holding the handle 40 in a user selected extended or retracted condition. Although an adjustable handle 40 is preferred, the handle may be non-adjustable, and thus may be integrally formed as part of the primary strut members 24.

Foot support elements 46, such as stirrups or in this case foot pegs, may also be provided. These are rigid elements which extend laterally to the longitudinal extents of the primary strut members 24. The foot support elements 46 are positioned just below the child seat element 14, and may be rotatable about the longitudinal extent of the primary strut member 24 for storage. The foot support elements 46 may also be selectively repositionable along the primary strut members 24 to accommodate different sizes or growth of the child.

The support frame 12 further comprises a front strut element 48, central strut element 50 and rear strut element 52 which are all connected to the primary strut members 24 and which extend to or generally to the rear thereof. The central strut element 50 is a generally Y-shaped rigid tubular element which is fixedly engaged with the two primary strut members 24 between the upper and lower portions 32, 42. The arms 54 of the central strut element 50 extend at substantially right angles to the longitudinal extents of the primary strut members 24, and the tail 56 of the central strut element 50 extends forwardly at substantially right angles to the longitudinal extents of the arms 54.

The support frame 12 also includes a pivot hub 58 which is mounted at or adjacent to the free distal end 60 of the tail 56 of the central strut element 50. The pivot hub 58 interconnects the front strut element 48, central strut element 50 and rear strut element 52. The tail 56 of the central strut element 50 extends into the pivot hub 58 and is pivotably connected at or substantially at the centre of the pivot hub 58 to a hub housing 62, as best seen in Figure 5. The hub housing 62 includes two, preferably circular, disk-like housing parts 64 which when fastened together form a first opening 66 for the front strut element 48 and an elongate second opening 68 for the central strut element 50 and the rear strut element 52. Two separate strut cavities 70, 72 are thus defined within the hub housing 62, the first strut cavity 70 accommodating the front strut element 48, and the second strut cavity 72 accommodating the central strut element 50 and the rear strut element 52.

A stop 74 is integrally formed within the second strut cavity 72 at one side thereof for the central strut element 50 to abut.

The front strut element 48 also comprises a generally Y-shaped rigid tubular element. A pair of front wheels 76 is rotatably and swivelably mounted at or adjacent to the end of each arm 78. A tail 80 of the front strut element 48 extends through the first opening 66 of the hub housing 62 and is fixedly engaged in the first strut cavity 70. The first opening 66 and first strut cavity 70 are complementarily shaped to closely match the dimensions of the tail 80 of the front strut element 48 so that the front strut element 48 and pivot hub 58 are angularly fixed relative to each other.

The rear strut element 52 includes a single rearwardly extending lower strut member 82, a Y shaped upper strut member 84, and a cross member 86. These members are again all formed from rigid tubular components for lightness and strength. A trailing end 88 of the lower strut member 82 fixedly connects with the cross member 86 at its midpoint.

Arms 90 of the upper strut member 84 are rotatably mounted to end portions of the cross member 86, and a rear wheel 92 is rotatably mounted at each end of the cross member 86. An upper tail end 94 of the tail 96 of the upper strut member 84 connects with a transverse cross bar 98 interconnecting the two primary strut members 24 at or adjacent to their upper portions 42. The transverse cross bar 98 may be rotatable with the upper tail end 94 of the upper strut member 84 being fixed relative thereto, or the upper tail end 94 of the tail 96 of the upper strut member 84 may be rotatably mounted on the transverse cross bar 98.

The lower tail end 100 of the tail 96 of the upper strut member 84 is hingably connected to the arms 90 and includes a releasable detent 102 for holding the arms 90 and the tail 96 in or substantially in the same plane. The detent 102 is remotely operable by a user-interface, in this case being an eye-ring pull 104 slidably mounted at the connection between one primary strut member 24 and the respective aim 54 of the central strut element 50. The eye-ring pull 104 is fastened to a flexible elongate element, such as a wire cable, which runs along the primary strut member 24, the transverse cross bar 98, and down the tail 96 of the upper strut member 84 to the detent 102. The detent 102 is preferably sprung so that pulling of the eye-ring pull 104 enables release of the detent 102 and thus folding of the upper strut member 84. Reengagement of the detent 102 is effected preferably automatically once the tail 96 and arms 90 of the upper strut member 84 are brought back into the common plane.

The proximal end 106 of the lower strut member 82 is received in the second strut cavity 72 of the hub housing 62 of the pivot hub 58 through the second opening 68. A proximal end portion 108 is pivotably mounted at a position which is radially outward of the pivot axis P1 of the central strut element 50. The pivot axes P1, P2 of the central strut element 50 and the rear strut element 52 within the pivot hub 58 are spaced sufficiently so that there is no interference during rotation. The second opening 68 is also sufficiently elongate so that, whilst the central strut element 50 and the lower strut member 82 rotate in the same plane, reciprocal movement towards and away from each other is accommodated.

To reduce the stress imparted by the rear strut element 52 on the pivot hub 58, a flexible elongate brace 110 is provided between the central strut element 50 and the lower strut member 82 of the rear strut element 52.

In use and with the apparatus 10 erected in its stroller condition, a child is seated on the child seat element 14, the handle 40 is adjusted, and the convertible carrier stroller 10 can be pushed, pulled and manoeuvred along flat and relatively even ground and surfaces. When an obstacle or more uneven ground is encountered, with the child remaining on the child seat element 14, a carer can position themselves at the front of the stroller 10 and swing the stroller gently onto their back via one of the shoulder straps. The other shoulder strap is then also located over the other shoulder, and in this condition the back support 16 rests against the carer's back.

The carer then operates the eye-ring pull 104 to release the detent 102, and then folds the lower strut member 82 upwards towards primary strut members 24. This causes the upper strut member 84 to fold inwards, and by utilising a clip 112 on the tail 96 of the upper strut member 84 and/or on the transverse cross bar 98 or another transverse cross bar extending between the two primary strut members 24, the lower strut member 82 can be clipped into place once fully folded. Conveniently, by arranging the upper strut member 84 to be interposed when folded between the lower strut member 82 and the primary strut members 24, the lower strut member 82 can hold the folded upper strut member 84 in place.

The folding up of the lower strut member 82 causes the pivot hub 58 to pivot about the pivot axis P1 of the central strut element 50, which in turn draws the front strut element 48 rearwards in a generally upwards arc. The pivot hub 58 is adapted so that, once the lower strut member 82 is clipped home in its folded condition, thereby indicating that the rear strut element 52 is fully collapsed, the front strut element 48 is also fully folded back and up, as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

The apparatus 10 can thus be used in carrier mode whilst traversing the difficult terrain.

Once flat or more even ground is approached, with the collapsible carrier stroller 10 still on the carer's back, the front strut element 48 can be drawn down and forwards. This movement rotates the pivot hub 58 about the central strut element 50 which causes the lower strut member 82 of the rear strut element 52 to be unclipped. With the front strut element 48 fully extended back down, the rotation of the pivot hub 58 will have caused the full re-erection of the rear strut element 52 and locking of the detent 102. The carrier can thus be demounted from the carer' s back with the child in situ, placed on the ground and substantially immediately and with little further preparation used in stroller mode.

Although six wheels are suggested, more or less than six wheels can be considered. For example, the front strut element may only support a single centrally located front wheel.

For further compactness during storage, the primary strut elements may be interconnected via foldable transverse cross bars. In this case, the front strut element may be foldable, and the cross member of the rear strut element may be foldable, for

example.

It is thus possible to provide a convertible carrier stroller which, by the pivot hub, enables collapse and erection of interconnected parts of the support frame when operating only one part. It is thus possible to provide a convertible carrier stroller which can be collapsed and erected by the user and whilst mounted on the user's back and with the child in situ at all times. The convertible carrier stroller utilises a small number of moving parts, and is thus light in weight and cost-effective to manufacture whilst still being comfortable for the child.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended clams. C1ams

Claims

I. A convertible carrier stroller comprising an at least in part collapsible support frame, a child seat element supported by the support frame, a back support on the support frame for contact with a carer's back, and shoulder straps for engagement with a carer's shoulders, the support frame including a front strut element rotatably supporting at least one front wheel, a rear strut element rotatably supporting at least one rear wheel, a central strut element which is between the front and rear strut elements, and a pivot hub which is mounted on the central strut element, the pivot hub interconnecting the front and rear strut elements, the front strut element being angularly fixed relative to the pivot hub, and the central and rear strut elements being angularly displaceable relative to the pivot hub.
2. A convertible carrier stroller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support frame includes at least one primary strut element to which the child seat is connected, the central strut element being angularly fixed relative to the primary strut element.
3. A convertible carrier stroller as claimed in claim 2, wherein the front and rear strut elements are angularly displaceable relative to the primary strut element.
4. A convertible carrier stroller as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein two primary strut elements are provided and which are held in spaced relationship relative to each other, the central strut element including two strut portions, each of which is connected to a respective primary strut element.
5. A convertible carrier stroller as claimed in claim 4 when dependent on claim 3, wherein the two primary strut elements rotatably support the front and rear strut elements.
6. A convertible carrier stroller as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pivot hub has separate openings for receiving the front, rear and central strut elements.
7. A convertible carrier stroller as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pivot hub as two said openings, the front strut element being received in a first said opening and the central and rear strut elements being received in a second said opening.
8. A convertible carrier stroller as claimed in claim 7, wherein the said first opening provides a complementary fit through which the front strut element is received.
9. A convertible carrier stroller as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the said second opening is elongate for receiving the central and rear strut elements in spaced relationship, and for enabling separate movement within the opening.
10. A convertible carrier stroller as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pivot hub includes a separate stop for each of the central strut element and the rear strut element.
11. A convertible carrier stroller as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, on the pivot hub, a pivot axis of the central strut element is radially inward of a pivot axis of the rear strut element.
12. A convertible carrier stroller as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pivot hub is a circular disk element.
13. A convertible carrier stroller as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rear strut element includes an upper rear strut member and a lower rear strut member, the upper rear strut member being hinged partway along its longitudinal extent.
14. A convertible carrier stroller as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a detent for releasably locking the hinge of the upper rear strut member.
15. A convertible carrier stroller as claimed in claim 14, wherein the detent is remotely operable.
16. A convertible carrier stroller as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the detent is operable via a user-interface element at or adjacent to the central strut element.
17. A convertible carrier stroller substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.