GB2515037A

GB2515037A - Pushchair for a child

Info

Publication number: GB2515037A
Application number: GB1310387.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-06-11
Filing date: 2013-06-11
Publication date: 2014-12-17
Also published as: GB201310387D0

Abstract

A pushchair for a child comprises a frame 12, wheels 16 and a seat 14, the seat 14 being mounted to the frame 12 by at least first and second arms 56 mounted to either side of the seat, the arms 56 being co-axially pivotably mounted to the frame 12 and co-axially pivotally mounted to the seat 14, and the seat 14 being movable relative to frame 12 on rotation of the arms 56 between a first lower position and a second upper position.

Description

PUSHCHAIR FOR A CHILD

The present invendon relates to a pushchair for a child and particularly to a pushchair which converts to a high chair mode.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

There are many different designs of pushchair, sometimes referred to as a stroller, pram or baby buggy, and in fact there are some designs which convert from a stroller chair arrangement to a high chair arrangement, for example as disclosed in US 5829826 (ZICCARDI MARY ANNE). In this alTangement, a movable seat is mounted within a frame. The seat incorporates pegs extending from the sides of the seat, which co-operate with inward facing s'ots disposed in the frame of the pushchair.

To move the position of the seat relative to the frame, sprung pins need to be retracted and then the seat moved upwardly or downwardly in a sliding action with the pegs moving within the slots.

A perceived problem of this design and other designs is that the pushchair is not easily convertible between the two modes. Most importantly. the arrangement does not allow the movement of the seat single handedly and the movement is difficuli to achieve, particularly if a child is seated in the seat. For example. in US 5829826.

release pins have to be undone and then the chair guided by hand in the movement between the lowered pushchair position and the raised high chair position. This is a two handed operation. Also, the movement of the seat is a complex movement, because the guide slots are not straight.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pushchair which can be used also as a highchair and to reduce or substantially obviate the above mentioned problems.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a pushchair for a child comprising a frame, wheels and a seat, the seat being mounted to the frame by at east a pair of first arms mounted either side of the seat, the arms being co-axially pivotably mounted to the frame and co-axially pivotally mounted to the seat, and the seat being movable relative to frame on rotation of the arms between a first lower position and a second upper position.

Advantageously, the position of the seat can be moved in a single rotary movement on the arms between the first lower position and the second upper position.

Second arms may be mounted to either side of the seat, the second arms being co-axially pivotably mounted to the frame and co-axially pivotally mounted to the seat.

The second arms may be spaced from the first arms on either side of the seat.

The first and second arms are substantially the same length and the arms rotate together as the seat is moved between the two positions. This ensures that the movement of the seat is balanced and smooth. Also the orientation of the seat relative to the frame is substantially maintained, If there is a child in the seat during the movement, then the child should not be concerned by the movement because their body position in the seat is unchanged during the movement The frame may include first and second parallel disposed front side members and first and second rear side members.

The first and second rear side members are respectively pivotally mounted to the first and second front side members.

The wheels may be mounted substantially at the lower distal ends of the front and rear side members and a foot spar may be mounted to the frame.

A handle may be mounted to the frame for pushing and otherwise handling the pushchair.

The foot spar may be mounted between the first and second front side members, in a position beneath the seat, enabling a child to rest his or her feet on the foot spar when the seat is in the lower pushchair position.

I

The handle may be mounted to the upper ends of the first and second front side members, in a position above the seat, at a comfortable height for pushing the pushchair.

Locking means may be provided for locking the seat in either the first lower position or the second upper position. The locking means may include at least one spnng loaded locking dement.

The at least one spring loaded locking element may be biased to the locked position.

A handle may be disposed on the seat for facilitating movement of the seat between the first thwer position and the second upper position, movement of the handle relative to the seat causing un-locking of the locking means. Advantageously, the handle may unlock two locking means simultaneously arid also allow handling of the seat, ie enabling single handed operation.

A tray may be removably mounted to the pushchair, substantially horizontally disposed, in front of the seat. The tray may be mounted to the seat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TI-IF DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be caned into effect, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of a pushchair of the invention with the seat in a lowered pushchair position; Figure 2 shows a rear perspective view of the pushchair of Figure 1, with the seat in a the lowered pushchair position; Figure 3 shows a front perspective view of the pushchair of Figure 1. with the seat in a raised highchair position; Figure 4 shows a front perspective view of the pushchair of Figure 1 in which the frame is folded to a stowed position with the tray removed; and Figure 5 shows a perspective exploded view of the components of the pushchair of Figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

RefelTing firstly to Figures 1 to 3, a pushchair is indicated generally at 10. The pushchair 10 includes a frame 12 supporting a seat 14, with wheels 16 disposed at the base of the frame 12. It can be seen that the seat can be moved between two positions, being a lower position as shown in Figure 1, intended for use as a pushchair, and a raised position as shown in Figure 3. intended for use as a high chair.

Referring also to Figure 5, the frame 12 is comprised of first and second parallel disposed front side members iS, 20, which are straight circular tubular members.

First and second rear side members 22, 24, also made from straight tubular members, are pivotally mounted to the respective first and second front side members 18, 20 at connectors 26, 28 disposed partway along the first and second front side members 18, 20. Connecting struts 30, 32 are provided between the front and rear side members on either side, so that each side of the pushchair is constructed generally as an A-frame.

The struts 30, 32 are hinged substantially at the centre and are pivotally mounted to the front and rear side members 18, 20; 22, 24, enabling folding of the pushchair to a folded position as shown in Figure 4. In this position, the front and rear side members lie substantially one behind the other, due to the hinging position on the connectors 26, 28.

The wheds 16 at the front of the pushchair are attached to the thwer end of the front side members 18, 20 by means of fittings 34, which are curved downwardly to a substantially vertical position in use. This allows for pivoting movement of the wheels 16 about a vertical axis for effective steering. There are two wheels 16 in each set, connected by an axle, which is mounted for rotation in the fittings 34.

The wheds at the rear of the pushchair are attached to the lower end of the rear side members 22, 24 by means of fittings 36. These fittings 36 are substantially straight and similarly are apertured to receive the axle of a set of wheels 16.

A tab 38 extends from the fittings 36 for conveniently pivotally mounting the ends of the connecting struts 30, 32 to the rear side members 22, 24. A brake mechanism.

indicated generally at 40, and operated by a pedal lever 42 is provided for each of the rear wheds 1 6.

A handle 44, which is substantially U-shaped, is mounted to the upper ends of the front side members 18, 20 and provides rigidity at the upper end of the pushchair as well as providing a means for handling the pushchair, be it pushing, pulling or Ufting.

Further rigidity is provided by a spar 46, shown in Figure 2, which connects the rear side members 22, 24, and the connection of the seat 14 to the side members, as described below.

A foot spar 48 extends between the front side members 18, 20, beneath the seat, and provides a footrest for a child riding in the pushchair in the pushchair mode. The foot spar is made from flat flexible material and is pivotally mounted at either end, so that the child can rest his feet comfortably at any desired angle on the foot spar 48.

The seat 14 is made from a hard outer shell 50, preferably from plastics or metal, and is internally covered with a soft liner 52, in conventional manner. The shell 50 includes substantially planar sides 54, which are exposed on their outer sides, for receiving the attachment means to the side frames. On each side of the seat 14, first and second connecting arms 56, 58 are provided. A circular spigot 60 is mounted to the upper end of each arm 56, 58. Corresponding apertures 62 are provided in the planar sides 54 of the shell 50, best seen in Figure 5, for receiving the spigots 60 and enabling rotary movement of the arms 56, 58 relative to the seat sides. Apertures 64 are provided through the lower ends of the arms 56, 58, which are pivotably connected to the front side members i8, 20 by pins 66, which serve as axles.

It will be appreciated that without locking means, the seat is free to swing relative to the frame on the arms 56, 58. The orientation of the seat 14 relative to the frame stays the same through the movement, because the arms effectively "parallelogram" in the movement between their in-line positions, parallel with the front side members.

A locking mechanism, indicated generally at 68 in Figure 5, incorporates a pin 70, on each side of the seat, which is spring biased by a spring 72 outwardly of the seat i4 to engage in an aperture provided in the first arm 56. The pin 70 locks the seat to the anii 56 in the upper highchair position and prevents further rotational movement of the seat 14. In the lower pushchair position, the pins 70 engage in an apertures provided in a connectors 26, 28 to prevent rotation. The pins are biased outwardly. ie to the locked position, so that the seat is locked unless the pins are withdrawn.

A handle 74 is mounted to the upper end of the seat shell 50 and is mounted partly within a recess. The handle 74 can be used to manipu'ate the seat 14, but also serves as a release mechanism for the spring biased pins 70. When the handle is pulled away from the seat, it moves outwardly and by means of cables, retracts the pins 70, against the bias of the springs, out of connection with either the arms 56 or the connectors 26,28, thus allowing free movement of the seat i4 between the lower and upper positions.

A tray 75 incorporating a moulded plastics surface with a raised outer rim and a bounded area for receiving a drinking vessel is provided for attachment to the seat shell 50. Connecting members 76 extend from either side of the seat shell and engage in sockets provided at the sides of the seat shell, between the positions where the first and second arms 56, 58 are mounted. The tray 75 can be removed as required and may be releasaNy atched in position by means of one or more sprung latches within either the connecting members 76 or corresponding sockets.

A fabric carrier 78 is mounted in the bottom of the pushchair in well known manner and is connected between the members of the frame to provide a useful area for calTying shopping or the like.

In use, the pushchair can be carried, for example in a vehicle, or stored with the pushchair in a folded condition, as shown in Figure 4. Unfolding is achieved simply by pulling the front and rear side members 18, 20; 22, 24 apart and the legs are held apart by the connecting struts 30, 32 which lock out in a straight condition, preventing unwanted folding of the pushchair in use. A child can be fastened in the seat by straps (not shown) in conventional manner and wheeled as required. When it is required to convert the pushchair to the highchair mode, then the handle 74 can be moved upwardly. thus releasing the locking pins and enabling lifting of the seat (with or without the child in the seat) to the upper position. The seat swings about the arms 56, 58 which pivot through 180 degrees until they are re-aligned. On release of the handle, the locking pins are biased outwardly and the position of the seat is locked to the frame again. Conveniently, the seat can be moved between the positions by a single actuation, ie with the use of one hand by the movement of the handle. It will be appreciated that it may be helpful to apply the wheel brakes before making the change between modes. In the highchair position, the child is raised up effectively nearly double the length of the arms 56, 58, to a position where it is comfortaHe to sit at a standard table of around 600mm high.

Lowering of the seat 14 is achieved similarly through release of the locking pins by the handle 74 and downward swinging of the seat about the arms in a parallelogram motion out of the plane of the front side members. For folding of the pushchair, the struts 30,32 can be released by folding them upwardly at their centre about the hinge to draw the front and rear side members together.

The embodiment descnbed above is provided by way of example only, and various changes and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A pushchair for a child comprising a frame, wheels and a seat, the seat being mounted to the frame by at least a pair of first arms, the arms being mounted either side of the seat, the arms being co-axially pivotably mounted to the frame and co-axially pivotally mounted to the seat, and the seat being movable relative to frame on rotation of the arms between a first lower position and a second upper position.
2. A pushchair as claimed in claim 1, in which a pair of second arms are mounted to either side of the seat, the second arms being co-axially pivotably mounted to the frame and co-axially pivotally mounted to the seat.
3. A pushchair as claimed in claim 2. in which the second arms are spaced from the first arms on either side of the seat.
4. A pushchair as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the frame includes first and second parallel disposed front side members.
5. A pushchair as claimed in daim 4, in which the frame includes first and second rear side members.
6. A pushchair as claimed in claim 5, in which the first and second rear side members are respectively pivotally mounted to the first and second front side members.
7. A pushchair as claimed in claim 5 or 6, in which the wheels are mounted substantially at the lower distal ends of the front and rear side members.
8. A pushchair as claimed in any preceding claim in which a foot spar is mounted to the frame.
9. A pushchair as daimed in any preceding claim in which a handle is mounted to the frame.
10. A pushchair as claimed in claim 8. in which the foot spar is mounted between the first and second front side members, in a position beneath the seat.
11. A pushchair as claimed in claim 9, in which the handle is mounted to the upper ends the first and second front side members, in a position above the seat.
12. A pushchair as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a locking means is provided for locking the seat in either the first lower position or the second upper position.
13. A pushchair as claimed in claim 12, in which the locking means indudes at least one spring loaded locking element.
14. A pushchair as claimed in claim 12, in which said at least one spring loaded locking element is biased to the locked position.
15. A pushchair as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14, in which a handle is disposed on the seat for facilitating movement of the seat between the first lower position and the second upper position, movement of the handle relative to the seat causing un-locking of the locking means.
16. A pushchair as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a tray is removably mounted to the pushchair, substantially horizontally disposed, in front of the seat.
17. A pushchair as claimed in claim 11, in which the tray is mounted to the seat.
18. A pushchair for a child substantially as descnbed herein, with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.