AU685353B2 - Foldable baby carriage frame and cradle seat couplable to same - Google Patents

Description

11111 P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

S.

*r S.

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT

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JANE, S.A.

Ramon Jane Cabagnero CALLINAN LAWRIE, 278 High Street, Kew, 3101, Victoria, Australia "FOLDABLE BABY CARRIAGE FRAME AND CRADLE SEAT COUPLABLE TO SAME" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 25/3196LP8635.CSi

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-2- This invention relates to a cradle seat couplable to a baby carriage.

Different models of cradle seats are already known which are made up of a seat frame with lateral arm rests and front railing, with backrest and footrest hinged to the frame. It is also known that these types of cradle seats are coupled removably to the frame of different models of baby carriages, being able to be positioned facing the front or rear.

In most of these carriages, above all in those in which the frame is folded transversally, the seat must be removed in order to fold the carriage as C the framework of the former is transversally rigid, with the person pushing the baby in the carriage, usually mothers or baby sitters, have to perform various operations, usually cumbersome, when they have to fold the carriage, and they S find themselves on one side of the folded carriage with the seat on the other, and, with the baby in it, cannot alone, for example, carry all the equipment onto public transport.

C Another purpose of this invention is to obtain a cradle seat that folds together with the carriage, that is, a seat that does not require removal to fold the carriage. This eliminates the above mentioned problem, and also allows storing the carriage in a very small space, whether in the boot of a car or at home.

Another very important feature of this cradle seat is an automatic locking device which, when the seat is removed from the frame of the carriage, locks the transversal folding apparatus of the seat to prevent accidental folding and ensure the safety of the baby.

251396L P863.SPJ3,2 I L -2A- In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, therefore, there is provided a carriage comprising a foldable frame including a cradle seat having a seat frame, said seat frame including a pair of lateral arm rests supporting a front railing, a back rest pivotably connected to said arm rests, first locking means for allowing a plurality of inclined positions for said back rest, said cradle seat including a foot rest connected to said seat frame, said seat frame comprising two laterally spaced apart support arms, a pair of pivotably connected arms each having an end connected to a said support arm, each pivotably connected arm having an end portion pivotably connected to the other said respective support arm and another portion joined together by second locking means which locks said seat frame in an extended position, said second locking means including an elastic member, said end portions of said pivotably connected arms form a bend extending upwardly through and are rotatably coupled to said respective lateral i"F arm rests.

.•In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention there is o provided a carriage comprising a foldable frame including a cradle seat having a 0o seat frame, said seat frame including a pair of lateral arm rests supporting a front railing, a back rest pivotably connected to said arm rests, first locking means for .2G allowing a plurality of inclined positions for said back rest, said cradle seat °mo including a foot rest connected to said seat frame, said seat frame comprising two laterally spaced apart support arms, a pair of pivotably connected arms each having an end connected to a said support arm, said pivotably connected arms having end portions pivotably interconnected together and other portions joined 711 0197GV8635.SPE,14 2B together by second locking means which lock said seat frame in an extended position, said second locking means including an elastic member, said foot rest being flexible and having a framework comprising two lateral supports provided with a locking member to allow for different inclined positions of said foot rest, said foot rest having spaced angular members which are hinged together to allow folding when said frame is folded.

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a carriage comprising a foldable frame including a cradle seat having a seat frame, said seat frame including a pair of lateral arm rests supporting a front railing, a back rest pivotably connected to said arm rest, first locking means for allowing a plurality of inclined positions for said back rest, said cradle seat including a foot rest connected to said seat frame, said seat frame comprising two laterally spaced apart support arms, a pair of pivotably connected arms each 1 having an end connected to a said support arm, said pivotably connected arms 9 having end portions pivotably interconnected and other portions joined together 9 by second locking means which lock said seat frame in an extended position, said second locking means including an elastic m, rioe r, said front railing comprising two portions joined together about a r.ivot so that said front railing is foldable toward the interior of said cradle seat, ,Jifd firont railing having elastic members f urging said front railing to an extended p.o:.ition.

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-3- To obtain transversal folding of the cradle seat, the seat itself, backrest and footrest are flexible and mounted on frames, which include lateral supports, joined together by hinged elements.

These hinged elements, in the case of the seat are made up of two cross hinged arms, which also include a locking caliper which, subject to elastic pressures, ensures the locking of the arms in their open position, and the use of the seat out of the carriage.

When the seat is coupled to the corresponding side stringers of the carriage frame, the operation of the above mentioned automatic locking device 4 is cancelled as a crosswise hinged and divided rod hinged transversally to one of the longitudinal supports of the seat frame, and which protrudes at one end S through the corresponding side armrest, makes contact with said end with the S frame stringer and turns in such a way that the other end of the rod unlocks the a above mentioned caliper, thereby allowing the crossed arms to fold when the cradle seat receives the transversal folding pressure exerted when the frame is folded.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention is especially useful with respect to the foldable frame disclosed in Australian Patent Application No. 46185/93, the contents of which are herein incorporated. Although the cradle seat is not restricted to its use with the foldable frame of Australian Patent Application No. 46185/93 it will be helpful to the reader to include description of the foldable frame.

25/3/96LP8635.SPe,3 In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a perspective of the frame assembly in the open position.

Figure 2 is a schematic top view of the cross-hinged arms and the tie rods which allow the frame to be folded transversally.

Figures 3 and 4 show a top view and sectional elevation, respectively, of the hinge and locking device of the two elements which make up the middle section of the handlebar.

.,Figure 5 shows a top view of the folded frame.

o4t Figure 6 shows a perspective of the eccentric locking pin which locks the seat and/or cradle carrier coupling.

Figure 7 and 8 show, schematically, an elevation of the position of this locking device and the locking element in the locked and unlocked position, eeoc respectively.

o Figure 9 shows a perspective of the cradle seat coupled to the frame of the baby carriage.

Figure 10 shows a top view of this assembly, cradle seat and frame, in the folded position.

Figure 11 shows a side elevation of the cradle seat.

Figure 12 shows a top plan view of a cradle seat section.

Figure 13 shows a bottom plan view of the cradle seat.

Figure 14 shows an elevation of the middle section of the handlebar in the extended position of the baby carriage.

25/31 "6.P635.SPB,4

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Figure 15 shows in detail a section elevation of the construction of the handlebar safety device.

Figure 16 shows a rear elevation of the above mentioned safety device.

Figure 17 shows a side elevation of the construction details, with coaxial rotation, of the handlebar branch sections, with the locking pin envisaged on the front feet.

Figure 18 is a detail plan view of the locking pin mounted on the °coo o: front feet.

Figure 19 is an elevation of the initiation of folding of the handlebar with unlocking of the locking pins mounted on the front feet.

C. 0 As shown in the drawings, the frame is made up of a handlebar 1, of general U shape, whose middle section, which forms the pushing handle, consists of two L-shaped sections 2 and 3, of which one section, shorter and tubular, is inserted, with capacity for partial coaxial turning, on the corresponding 4 and 5 sections of the handlebar, while the other sections of the L-shaped elements are hinged together by a transversal rod 6 parallel to the handlebar sections. Partial coaxial turning of the 2 and 3 L-shaped elements is achieved by the use of crosswise arranged slots 7 on same which are adjusted onto a fixed pivot on the 4 and 5 sections of the handlebar, and which are not shown in the drawings.

The handlebar 1 is slide mounted on the front feet 8 and 9 and is guided in movement by brackets 10 and 11 which are hinged with a pin 12 to 2513/96LP8635,SPE.5 -6the upper end of the vertical elements 13 and 14, which at their lower parts hinge the arm ends 15 and 16, which are cross-hinged at their centre 17 (Fig.

which at the other end are hinged with the lower ends of the 4 and sections of the handlebar.

The rear sections of said arms 15 and 16 are hinged by tie rods 18 and 19 to tihe middle sections of the vertical elements 13 and 14.

The end hinges 20 and 21 of the arms 15 and 16, as well as 22 and 23 of the tie rods 18 and 19 are double and are parallel to two axis arranged perpendicularly to each other.

.4W The sections 4 and 5 of the handlebar, below the flanges 10 and 11, ~are joined to other guide brackets 24 and 25 through which slide the front feet *454 S 8 and 9, on whose guide flanges is hinged with a pin 26 the upper end of the rear feet 27 and 28, at the lower end of which are hinged by pins 29 the lower section of the vertical elements 13 and 14.

t5 At the upper section of said vertical elements are hinged by a pin 4 54E the rear ends of the side stringers 31 and 32 which at their front end are hinge supported by their respective angular struts 33 and 34, which at their bottom end are hinged to the upper section of their respective rear feet 27 and 28.

These stringers are provided with devices 35 and 36 which allow a seat to be moveably coupled on them. The front devices 35 are provided with a pin to ensure said coupling and consists of a circular control knob 37, which by partial rotation G and the intervention of an eccentric internal protrusion 38 determines the rectilinear displacement R of the locking device 35 and of which 25131%i.P8635,SPE,6 -7entails an internal location 39 with a radial branch 40 upon which acts said eccentric projection (Figures 7 and 8).

The transversal folding of the chassis, bringing together the side elements, is assisted by the hinged arms 15 and 16, the tie rods 18 and 19, the hinges of the handlebar middle section 2-3 and the hinges of the cross-element 41 which joins the front feet 8 and 9 together.

This cross-element consists of two sections 42 and 43 hinged :•ar together by a pin 44 and hinged at their ends to their matching squares 45 and 46 fixed to the front feet, with a spiral spring 47 mounted on the central hinge 4.1b 44 which pushes said sections to their extended position in which they locate in prolongation to each other.

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The hinge of the central shaft 6 of the handlebar has a pin 48, which locks it in the extended position, the locating pin consisting of a stopping dog i 49 (Figure 4) seated in the recess 50 of the disc-shaped extension 51 at the end of the L-section 2 of the handlebar, and which protrudes from said recess by the force of a spring 52 and is inserted into a notch 53 at the outer edge of the other disc-shaped extension 54 at the end of the other L-section 3 of the handlebar, on whose stopping dog there is an external push button 55 which locates the mentioned notch and when pressed seats the stopping dog 49 inside the seat 50, allowing free rotation between the two superposed expansions 51 and 54 around the shaft 6 which passes through their centre.

In addition to this locating pin the frame also has a locating pin 56 on each side to ensure locking of the extended in use position, whose pin, for 25131961. 63 5.SP 7 -8example, is of the same specifications as those for the frame of the Spanish patent ES-P9002663.

This frame may be complemented with a tray which is coupled to the lower part with suitable devices.

As shown in Figures 9 and 10 the cradle seat is coupled to the foldable baby carriage for which this cradle seat has been mainly designed, and is made up of flexible seat frame 60, consisting of two lateral longitudinal r oeel support elements 61 and is provided with lateral arm rests 62. To the lower part of this frame is hinged the flexible back rest frame 63 consisting of two lateral 4 04 longitudinal support elements 64 on whose lateral part of the frame there are devices 65 for locking the back rest at different angles.

e o 40e To the front part of the seat frame is hinged a footrest 66, and on the lateral arm rests 62 is hinged a sliding type front railing 67, whose lower *o 0 lateral sections on the exterior face are provided with chanelled extensions 68 *125 which are fitted to their respective lateral stringers 31 of the baby carriage o 00 frame.

The two longitudinal supports 61 of the seat frame are joined together at the lower end by two cross-hinged arms 69 and 70 (Figure 13) of which one section is hinged through an intermediate point 71. The other sections of said two arms are joined together by a locking caliper 72 which locks the cradle seat in the open, useful position. At the point where the caliper is hinged to the arm 69, a spring 73 is mounted which ensures the open position of the locking caliper to maintain the locked position.

25/3!96IP8635.SP,,8 At their free ends said cross-hinged arms 69 and 70 are bent upward to form vertical sections 74 which are coupled together and may be rotated coaxially in their seats 75 set in the lateral arm rests 62.

Means have been envisaged on the cradle seat which, when coupled to the frame of the baby carriage, release the locking caliper 72 to allow crosswise folding of the cradle seat toge with the folding of the frame, as shown in Figure 10. The indicated device6 are made up of a bent rod 76, which at one end 77, directed downward, is hinged by means of a bracket 78 (Figure 12) to one of the longitudinal supports 61 of the seat frame, while at the other ,*b4 end 79 (Figure 13) the rod protrudes from the channelled extension 68 of the correspording lateral arm rest 62.

On coupling the cradle seat onto the frame of the baby carriage, the end 79 of the rod 76 makes contact with the corresponding lateral stringer 31

S

of the frame, by which said rod is rotated through the hinge on the bracket 78, whose rotation acts upon the other end 77 of the rod, which pushes the extended arm 80 of the locking caliper, overcoming the resistance of the spring 73 and releasing said caliper, by which the cradle seat can be folded crosswise together with the frame.

When the cradle seat is removed with respect to the frame, the locking caliper 72 is locked again and the bent rod 76 is maintained in its inactive position, as its end 77 is subjected to the traction of a spring 81 fixed to the corresponding longitudinal support element 61.

The inclined position locking devices 65 of the back rest are released 25/3J96LJP8635,SPE,9

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by means of a common central control 82, which is hinged with two diverging tie rods 83 to said devices, whose control is coupled slidewise on a support 84 coupled on the hinge point of two cross-hinged arms 85 and 86 which are joined together at the two longitudinal supports 64 of the back rest frame, of which one of its sections is hinged in turn through an intermediate point 87.

The leg rest is made up of a flexible sheet 88, and consists of a frame with two lateral support elements 89 provided with locking devices 90 for the different inclined positions of the leg rest, and to which are coupled, with I, o4 optional coaxial rotation capacity, the angular elements 91 located at the side to

S.

4o- and the front half of the leg rest, and which are joined together hingewise through its front section by a tie rod 92.

o The lateral support elements 89 of the frame of the leg rest are at the lower end made up of their respective blocks 93 with lower inclined face, ae° S through which the leg rest is pushed upward by the cross-hinged arms 69 and ao..

70 of the seat during transversal folding of the cradle seat if the leg rest is in the lowered position.

The front railing 67 is made up of two lateral arms 94 which are inserted telescopically into the upper tubular sections 95 of the lateral arm supports 62, and which are retained in different protruding positions by means of a locking device 96 so as to adapt its length should the seat be used as such or as a cradle. The front section of the railing consists of three sections, one central section 97 and the other two 98 and 99 which are longer lateral sections, hinged together, and are held in alignment by means of stopping dogs 2513196LP8635.SP3,1O 11 and the pressure of a spring 100, which is exten when the front railing is folded toward the interior of the seat when the cradle seat is folded (Figure The back rest of the cradle seat is provided with a hinged head 101, which is coupled laterally with tie rods 102 to the lateral arm rests 62 to achieve rotation and lock the end of the back rest in its folded position (Figure 11).

The cradle seat is finished with its corresponding seating pad, and can be generally fitted to foldable frames that are folded in a way similar to the one described.

ol'* As shown in Figure 4, the handlebar is made up of two sections, 2 and 3, which are hinged together through their lower arms by a transversal shaft 6, and make up the middle section of the handlebar which forms the pushing handle of the same, while the upper arms of the sections make up the branches 4 and 5 of the handlebar.

,The lower arms of the 2 and 3 sections are made up of plastic tubular parts in whose elbow ends the upper ends of the upper steel arms 4 and are inserted, to stiffen these two sections, and are secured with a rivet 7, (Fig. 16).

The handlebar, by means of its branch sections is slide-mounted on the front feet 8 and 9, and its branches 4 and 5 have divided lower zones to make up the end sections 4 (Figure 17) joined to the guide-flanges 24 along which the front feet slide.

The branches 4 and 5 of the handlebar can rotate coaxially with 2513196LP635.SP3,II -12respect to the end sections 4 of same. To this purpose, coupling between each other can be performed, for example, by a threaded rod 103, joined to the branches 4 and 5, which is threaded into a threaded socket 104 joined to said sections 4.

Said handlebar sections 4 and 5 have a projection 105 (Figure 17) on their lower face on which the locking pin 56 is hooked when the baby carriage is in the extended position, whose locking pin is mounted on the front feet 8 and 9. This locking pin is made up of a hook 106 made of a single section 44 and hinged by means of the pin 107 to the upper part of the front feet, whose o**?tT hook holds the projection 105 against which it is pushed by a helical spring 108 threaded on the pin 107, and whose ends rest, respectively, on the front foot and the section which makes up the hook 106.

The extended position of the handlebar (Figure 14) is locked, besides f* at e o* locking pin 48 action, by means of a safety device made up of a latch 110 (Figure 15) pressed on one end by a spring 111, and which on the other end is inserted in a bolt eye 112 envisaged in the discoidal expansion 51, preventing its rotation with respect to discoidal expansion 54 of part 3 of the handlebar where said latch 110 is mounted in a recess 113 of said part.

This latch is joined to an exterior control 114 of half-round section which slides on the rear part of the short end of part 3 of the handlebar.

On turning the safety device in the direction of the arrow F (Figure it is released to the expansion 51 with respect to the latch 110, and on pressing the button 55 as well, the safety pin 48 is unlocked, and it is now 25/3196LP8635P.SE,12 13possible tu turn the shorter arms of the shaped sections, 2 and 3, which fom the pushing handle of the handlebar with reference to each other, and by whose angular rotation (Figure 6) determines the coaxial rotation of the branches, 4 and 5, of the handlebar joined to said shorter arms, and thereby release the projections 105 of said branches with respect to the locking pins 56 mounted on the front feet, thereby allowing complete folding of the baby carriage.

The safety device which locks the hinge of the handlebar can also be 9 mounted on the locking pin itself 48 to lock it against involuntary pressing of its pushbutton.

4 9 9 9 499 9 49 9 099 99 2513/9LPS635.SPEA13 Y C I I~

Claims (10)

1. A carriage comprising a foldable frame including a cradle seat having a seat frame, said seat frame including a pair of lateral arm rests supporting a front railing, a back rest pivotably connected to said arm rests, first locking means for allowing a plurality of inclined positions for said back rest, said cradle seat including a foot rest connected to said seat frame, said seat frame comprising two laterally spaced apart support arms, a pair of pivotably connected arms each having an end connected to a said support arm, each pivotably connected arm having an end portion pivotably connected to the other said respective support arm and another portion joined together by second locking mens which locks said seat frame in an extended position, said second locking means including an elastic member, said end portions of said pivotably connected arms form a bend extending upwardly through and are rotatably coupled to said respective lateral o arm rests. .1.5

2. The carriage as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cradle seat is coupled o* to said seat frame by means of a coupling member whereby said cradle seat is foldable with said foldable frame upon unlocking said second locking means.

3. The carriage as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said second locking means includes a rod which has one end pivotably mounted on said support arm and an opposite end which extends through an associated arm rest, said second locking means including an extended member, rotation of said rod being effective to engage and move said extended member of said second locking means to move said second locking means from a locked to an unlocked condition. 7110/97GV8635.SPE,14 I I

4. The carriage as claimed in claim 3, wherein said rod is joined by an elastic member which urges said rod to a deactivated position, out of contact with said extended member of said second locking means.

The carriage as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said first locking means are movable from a locked to an unlocked condition by a central control member which is linked by tie rods to said first locking means.

6. The carriage as claimed in claim 5, wherein said back rest has opposite lateral longitudinal supports, said central control member being slidably mounted on a support which is positioned at a pivot point of two crossed arms which are connected to said longitudinal supports of said back rest.

7. A carriage comprising a foldable frame including a cradle seat having a seat frame, said seat frame including a pair of lateral arm rests supporting a front railing, a back rest pivotably connected to said arm rests, first locking means for S allowing a plurality of inclined positions for said back rest, said cradle seat .9 9*I; 1:6,15 including a foot rest connected to said seat fr;mne, said seat frame comprising two 9 laterally spaced apart support arms, a pair of pivotably connected arms each having an end connected to a said support arm, said pivotably connected arms having end portions pivotably interconnected together and other portions joined S* together by second locking means which lock said seat frame in an extended :i0 position, said second locking means including an elastic member, said foot rest being flexible and having a framework comprising two lateral supports provided with a locking member to allow for different inclined positions of said foot rest, 7/1 0/97GV83OSP 1 -16- said foot rest having spaced angular members which are hinged together to allow folding when said frame is folded.

8. The carriage as claimed in claim 7, wherein said lateral supports include protruding portions facing downwardly in use so that, when said frame is folded, said protruding portions will be engaged by portions of said f;ame to push said foot rest upwardly when said cradle seat is folded transversely.

9. A carriage comprising a foldable frame including a cradle seat having a seat frame, said seat frame including a pair of lateral arm rests supporting a front railing, a back rest pivotably connected to said arm rest, first locking means for allowing a plurality of inclined positions for said back rest, said cradle seat including a foot rest connected to said seat frame, said seat frame comprising two laterally spaced apart support arms, a pair of pivotably connected arms each having an end connected to a said support arm, said pivotably connected arms having end portions pivotably interconnected and other portions joined together by second locking means which lock said seat frame in an extended position, said 4 second locking means including an elastic member, said front railing comprising two portions joined together about a pivot so that said front railing is foldable toward the interior of said cradle seat, said front railing having elastic members urging said front railing to an extended position.

10. A carriage, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 7th day of October, 1997. JANE, S.A. By their Patent Attorneys: CALLINAN LAWRIE S7/10/97GV8635,SPE,16 ABSTRACT There is disclosed a cradle seat couplable to a foldable frame of a baby carriage. The cradle seat folds transversely together with the frame, thus, the two lateral elements of the seat are joined by two cross-hinged arms (69 and having been envisaged automatic unlocking mechanisms to facilitate said folding. *to* o V V 0* V .V V II V* 2513/ 91.P835.SPE,17 il a~-~a~s~g8