PUSH CHAIR CARRIAGE AND PUSH CHAIR COMPRISING SUCH PUSH CHAIR CARRIAGE

Abstract

A foldable push chair carriage includes an upper frame to support a child, a lower frame to support the upper frame, where the upper frame is pivotable with respect to the lower frame. The lower frame includes two side panels connected to each other by one or more connecting rods, where each side panel includes a front side panel part and a back side panel part, where the front side panel part and the back side panel part are pivotable with respect to each other between an unfolded position in which the front side panel part and the back side panel part extend at an angle of 160-180 degrees with respect to each other and a folded position in which the front side panel part and the back side panel part extend at an angle of 0-40 degrees with respect to each other.

Claims

1. A foldable push chair carriage that can be arranged in a folded state and an unfolded state comprising: an upper frame to support a child, a lower frame to support the upper frame, wherein the upper frame is pivotable with respect to the lower frame about a first rotation axis, wherein that the lower frame comprises two side panels connected to each other by one or more connecting rods, wherein each side panel comprises a front side panel part and a back side panel part, wherein the front side panel part and the back side panel part are pivotable with respect to each other between an unfolded position in which the front side panel part and the back side panel part extend at an angle of 160-180 degrees with respect to each other and a folded position in which the front side panel part and the back side panel part extend at an angle of 0-30 degrees with respect to each other, and wherein each side panel comprises a front wheel and a back wheel.

2. The push chair carriage of claim 1, wherein each side panel comprises a front support rod and a back support rod, and wherein one end of the front support rod and one end of the back support rod are pivotably connected to each other.

3. The push chair carriage of claim 2, wherein the front support rod and back support rod are pivotable about the first rotation axis.

4. The push chair carriage of claim 2, wherein at least one of the one or more connecting rods is mounted between the front support rod of one side panel and the front support rod of the other side panel, and wherein at least one of the one or more connecting rods is mounted between the back support rod of one side panel and the back support rod of the other side panel.

5. The push chair carriage of claim 2, wherein the front support rod comprises an upper part and a lower part, wherein the lower part is rotatably mounted about its longitudinal axis with respect to the upper part, and wherein the lower part is fixedly mounted to the front side panel part, wherein the back support rod comprises an upper part and a lower part, wherein the lower part is rotatably mounted about its longitudinal axis with respect to the upper part, and wherein the lower part is fixedly mounted to the back side panel part, wherein one end of the upper part of the front support rod and one end of the upper part of the back support rod are pivotably connected to each other, and wherein the front side panel part and the back side panel part are pivotably connected to each other by a pivot element.

6. The push chair carriage of claim 2, wherein the front side panel part is pivotably mounted on the front support rod and the back side panel part is pivotably mounted on the back support rod, and wherein the front side panel part and the back side panel part are pivotably connected to each other by a pivot element.

7. The push chair carriage of claim 6, wherein the pivot element is a double pivot axis element, wherein one end of the double pivot axis element is pivotably connected to the front side panel part and the other opposite end of the double pivot axis element is pivotably connected to the back side panel part.

8. The push chair carriage of claim 1, wherein the front wheel is mounted on the front side panel part and the back wheel is mounted on the back side panel part.

9. The push chair carriage of claim 1, wherein the upper frame comprises a seat support part to support a child seat and a push bar part configured to push the push chair.

10. The push chair carriage of claim 9, wherein the seat support part and the push bar part are substantially U-shaped having legs, and wherein the legs of the push bar part are telescopically arranged in or on the legs of the seat support part.

11. The push chair carriage of claim 1, wherein the push chair carriage comprises a telescopic operating frame, wherein one end of the operating frame is pivotably about a second rotation axis mounted to the upper frame and another end of the operating frame is pivotably about a third rotation axis mounted to the lower frame, and wherein the first rotation axis, the second rotation axis and the third rotation axis are parallel and spaced from each other.

12. The push chair carriage of claim 1, wherein the upper frame is rotatable about the first rotation axis between a folded position and an unfolded position.

13. The push chair carriage of claim 11, wherein the operating frame is configured to push the front side panel part and the back side panel part of each side panel from the folded position towards the unfolded position, when the upper frame is moved from the folded position towards the unfolded position.

14. The push chair carriage of claim 1, wherein the push chair carriage comprises a locking device to lock the push chair carriage in the unfolded position.

15. The push chair carriage of claim 1, wherein, in the folded state of the push chair carriage, the upper frame, the front side panel parts, the back side panel parts, the front wheels and the back wheels are arranged substantially parallel to each other.

16. The push chair carriage of claim 1, wherein the side panel comprises a biasing element to bias the front side panel part and the back side panel part from the unfolded position at least partially towards the folded position.

17. A foldable push chair comprising: the push chair carriage of claim 1, and a child seat supported by the upper frame of the push chair carriage.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] An embodiment of a push chair carriage according to the invention will now be described in further detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a first isometric view of an embodiment of a push chair carriage according to the invention in unfolded state;

[0057] FIG. 2 shows a second isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in unfolded state;

[0058] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in unfolded state;

[0059] FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in unfolded state;

[0060] FIG. 5 shows a isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a first intermediate state between the unfolded state and the folded state;

[0061] FIG. 6 shows a isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a second intermediate state between the unfolded state and the folded state;

[0062] FIG. 7 shows a isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in the folded state;

[0063] FIG. 8 shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in the folded state; and

[0064] FIG. 9 shows a push chair with the push chair carriage of FIG. 1 and a child seat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0065] FIGS. 1 and 2 show isometric views of an embodiment of a push chair carriage according to the invention generally indicated by reference numeral 1 in the unfolded state. FIG. 3 shows a side view of the push chair carriage 1 and FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the push chair carriage 1.

[0066] In the unfolded state, the push chair carriage 1 is configured to support a child in a seating position. The push chair carriage 1 comprises an upper frame 2 to support a child and a lower frame 3 to support the upper frame 2. The upper frame 2 is pivotably mounted on the lower frame 3 to pivot the upper frame 2 between an unfolded position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a folded position (FIGS. 7 and 8). An operating frame 4 is provided to move the upper frame 2 with respect to the lower frame 3.

[0067] The upper frame 2 comprises a U-shaped seat support part 5 and a U-shaped push bar part 6. The legs of the seat support part 5 are formed by hollow tubes and the legs of the push bar part 6 are tubes that are slidingly arranged in the hollow tubes of the seat support part 5.

[0068] By adapting the relative position of the push bar part 6 with respect to the seat support part 5, a height of the push bar part 6 may be adjusted to a desired pushing height of the push chair carriage. A push bar part locking device 6a is provided to lock a position of the push bar part 6 with respect to the seat support part 5.

[0069] The seat support part 5 can support a child seat for example made of fabric and reinforcement plates. These child seats are known in the art. The seat support part 5 further supports a removable safety rod 7. The safety rod 7 is provided to prevent that a child inadvertently falls out of the child seat.

[0070] The lower frame 3 comprises two side panels 8 extending, in the unfolded position, in a vertical plane parallel to a main drive direction of the push chair carriage 1. Each side panel 8 comprises a front support rod 9 and a front side panel part 10. A front wheel 11 is mounted on the front side panel part 10. The front wheels 11 may be swivel wheels. Each side panel 8 further comprises a back support rod 12 and a back side panel part 13. A back wheel 14 is mounted on the back side panel part 13.

[0071] The front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 are plate shaped elements having a thickness substantially corresponding to the diameter of the front support rod 9 and the back support rod 12. In alternative embodiments the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 may have any other suitable shape. The front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 may be plate shaped elements having a different thickness than the diameter of the front support rod 9 and the back support rod 12. Also, the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 may be formed out of rods or beams, or combinations thereof.

[0072] The front support rod 9 comprises an upper part and a lower part, wherein the lower part is rotatably mounted about its longitudinal axis with respect to the upper part. The back support rod 12 also comprises an upper part and a lower part, wherein the lower part is rotatably mounted about its longitudinal axis with respect to the upper part.

[0073] The front side panel part 10 comprises two sleeves 15 through which the lower part of the front support rod 9 extends. The sleeves 15 of the front side panel part 10 are fixed to the lower part. Due to this connection between the sleeves 15 and the lower part of the front support rod, the front side panel 10 is pivotable with respect to the upper part of the front support rod 9. Similarly, the back side panel part 13 comprises two sleeves 16 through which the back support rod 12 extends and the sleeves 16 are fixed to the lower part of the back support rod 12. Due to this connection between the sleeves 16 and the lower part of the back support rod 12, the back side panel 13 is pivotable with respect to the upper part of the back support rod 12.

[0074] It is remarked that in the Figures only the upper parts of the front support rods 9 and the back support rods 12 are visible. The lower parts of the front support rods 9 and the back support rods 12 run through the sleeves 15, 16 and sleeves 18a, 19a of a front connecting rod 18 and a back connecting rod 19.

[0075] The ends of the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 that are directed towards each other are connected to each other with a double pivot axis element 17 such that the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 are pivotable with respect to each other between an unfolded position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a folded position.

[0076] In the unfolded position the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 extend at an angle of about 180 degrees to form together with the front support rod 9 and the back support rod 12 a substantially triangular side panel 8. This side panel 8 provides a high rigidity to the lower frame 3.

[0077] The double pivot axis element 17 provides a first pivotal connection to the front side panel part 10 and a second pivotal connection to the back side panel part 13. The first pivotal connection is spaced from the second pivotal connection to allow the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 to be rotated with respect to each other until the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 can be placed next to each other, at an angle of about 0 degrees, such that the main planes of the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 extend parallel to each other. The rotation axes of the first pivotal connection and the second pivotal connection are indicated in FIG. 3 as axis X-X and Y-Y respectively.

[0078] The side panels 8 are connected to each other by the front connecting rod 18 mounted between the two front support rods 9 and the back connecting rod 19 mounted between the two back support rods 12. To allow rotation of the lower part of the front support rod 9 with respect to the front connecting rod 18, the ends of the front connecting rod 18 are provided with sleeves 18a, in which the lower part of the front support rod 9 can freely rotate. To allow rotation of the lower part of the back support rod 12 with respect to the back connecting rod 19, the ends of the front connecting rod 19 are provided with sleeves 19a, in which the lower part of the front support rod 9 can freely rotate.

[0079] It is remarked that in an alternative embodiment of the lower frame 3, the front support rods 9 and the back support rods 12 may be constructed as being non-rotatable about their longitudinal axes. In this embodiment the front support rods 9 and the back support rods 12 are not fixed to the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 so that the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 can freely rotate with respect to the front support rods 9 and the back support rods 12, respectively. Also, the sleeves 18a and 19b may be fixed to the front support rods 9 and the back support rods 12 are no longer required to rotate with respect to each other.

[0080] In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the front connecting rod 18 has been shaped to function as a feet support to support the feet of a child sitting in a child seat supported by the upper frame 2. The combination of the rigid side panels 8 and the front connecting rod 18 and the back connecting rod 19 providing a rigid connection between the two side panels 8 results in a rigid construction of the lower frame 3. This rigid construction of the lower frame 3 functions as a reliable basis for the push chair carriage 1.

[0081] At the top ends, the upper part of the front support rod 9 and the upper part of the back support rod 12 are pivotably connected to each other, such that the front support rod 9 and the back support rod 12 can rotate with respect to each other about a first rotation axis A-A. The upper frame 2 also rotates with respect to the lower frame about the first rotation axis A-A.

[0082] When the front support rod 9 and the back support rod 12 are rotated towards each other, the lower part of the front support rod 9 and the front side panel part 10 may rotate with respect to the upper part of the front support rod 9, and the lower part of the back support rod 12 and the back side panel part 13 may rotate with respect to the upper part of the back support rod 12 until the front support rod 9 and the back support rod 12 are arranged substantially parallel to each other. In this folded position, the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 extend at an angle of about 0 degrees with respect to each other.

[0083] Since the front wheels 11 and the back wheels 14 are mounted to the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13, respectively, the front wheels 11 and the back wheels 14 will rotate together with the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 to the folded position in which the main planes of the front wheels 11 and the back wheels 14 are substantially parallel to the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13. This allows the lower frame to fold to a relative small thickness, when brought into the folded position. Thereby, it is possible to use relatively large front wheels 11 and/or back wheels 14.

[0084] The push chair carriage 1 further comprises an operating frame 4. The operating frame 4 is a telescopic frame comprising a U-shaped tube 20 (see FIG. 5) and hollow tubes 21. The U-shaped tube 20 is pivotably, about a second rotation axis B-B, mounted to a lower end of the seat support part 5 of the upper frame 2. Each leg of the U-shaped tube 20 extends into one end of each of the hollow tubes 21. The opposite ends of the hollow tubes 21 are pivotably mounted, about a third rotation axis C-C, to the back connecting rod 19.

[0085] The operating frame 4 comprises a locking device having a first locking device part 22 and a second locking device part 23. The first locking device part 22 is mounted on the U-shaped tube 20 and the second locking device part 23 is mounted between the two hollow tubes 21. In FIG. 4, the locking device is shown in locked position, whereby the first locking device part 22 and the second locking device part 23 are placed against each other. The first locking device part 22 comprises a hook 24 (see FIG. 5) that snaps into the second locking device part 23 to hold the first locking device part 22 and the second locking device part 23 together.

[0086] As long as the first locking device part 22 and the second locking device part 23 will stay in the position shown in FIG. 4, the length of the operating frame 4 will not change and the upper frame 2 will stay in the same position with respect to the lower frame 3.

[0087] On each of the hollow tubes 21 a roller 25 is provided that, in the unfolded state, is positioned next to the double pivot axis element 17 to hold the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 of the respective side panel 8 in the unfolded position. Due to the locking device, the rollers 25 will remain in the same position. This ensures that the side panels 8 will not inadvertently move towards the folded position. It is remarked that when the side panel 8 is moved from the folded position to the unfolded position, the rollers 25 will help to push the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 to the unfolded position.

[0088] It is remarked that rotation limiters may be provided to limit rotation of the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13. The rotation limiters may in particular be adapted to prevent movement of the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 from the unfolded position away from the rollers 25, or more generally in a direction away from the intended folded position of the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13.

[0089] To unlock the locking device such that movement of the first locking device part 22 away from the second locking device part 23 is possible, the push bar part 6 of the upper frame 2 may be pushed into the seat support part 5. This will move the hook 24 sideways out of the snap connection with the second locking device part 23, such that the first locking device part 22 can be moved away from the second locking device part 23.

[0090] When the locking device is no longer locked the upper frame 2 can be tilted about the first rotation axis A-A.

[0091] FIG. 5 shows the push chair carriage 1 in an intermediate state between the unfolded state and the folded state. It can be seen that the rollers 25 on the hollow tubes 20 have been moved upwards so they are no longer positioned next to the double pivot axis element 17. This means that the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 are no longer blocked to move towards the folded position.

[0092] To help the movement of the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 towards the folded position, a biasing element such as a pre-tensioned rubber element may be provided in or next to the double pivot axis element 17 so that the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 of each side panel 8 start to move towards the folded position as soon as the rollers 25 do no longer prevent such movement.

[0093] FIG. 6 shows the push chair carriage 1 when the upper frame 2 is further rotated with respect to the lower frame 3 about the first rotation axis A-A to a second intermediate state. In this second intermediate position, the legs of the U-shaped seat support part 5 of the upper frame 2 lie adjacent and parallel to the back support rods 12 of both side panels 8. It can also clearly be seen that the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 are no longer extending in the same plane, i.e. at an angle of about 180 degrees, but are pivoted with respect to each other. Also, since the front wheels 11 are mounted on the front side panel part 10 and the back wheels 14 are mounted on the back side panel part 13, the front wheels 11 and the back wheels 14 follow the rotation of the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13, respectively.

[0094] Since the U-shaped seat support part 5 of the upper frame 2 lie adjacent and parallel to the back support rods 12 of both side panels 8, the upper frame 2 can now not be rotated further with respect to the lower frame 3. To further fold the push chair carriage 2 the push chair carriage 2 can be lifted by the user when holding the child seat carriage 2 at the hand grip 26 provided on the first locking device part 22.

[0095] When the push chair carriage 1 is lifted by pulling it upwards from the position shown in FIG. 6, while holding it at the handle grip 26, the side panels 8 will further fold until the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 are arranged next to each other in the folded position.

[0096] FIG. 7 shows the push chair carriage 1 in the folded state in which the side panels 8 are completely folded. The front wheels 11 and the back wheels 14 are rotated together with the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13, respectively, so that the main planes of the front wheels 11 and the back wheels 14 are parallel with the plane in which the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 extend.

[0097] Thus, in the folded state of the push chair carriage 1, the upper frame 2, the front side panel parts 10, the back side panel parts 13, the front wheels 11 and the back wheels 14 are arranged substantially parallel to each other and on top of each other.

[0098] FIG. 8 shows a side view of the push chair carriage 1 in the folded state. It can be seen that in the folded state, the push chair carriage 1 provides a package with a relatively low thickness. Such package is very suitable for storage and/or transport of the push chair carriage 1. It is remarked that the front wheels 11 and back wheels 14 may be relatively big, while the push chair carriage 1 can still be folded into a package with a relatively low thickness.

[0099] The push chair carriage 1 can be moved from the folded state to the unfolded state by rotation of the upper frame 2 with respect to the lower frame 3 from the folded position to the unfolded position. The rotation of the upper frame 2 will cause the hollow tubes 21 of the operational frame 4 to push against the back side panel parts 13. This will initiate the movement of the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 from the folded position towards the unfolded position. At the end of this movement the rollers 25 will push the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 in the unfolded position, where the rotation limiters will prevent that the front side panel part 10 and the back side panel part 13 will move past the unfolded position.

[0100] An advantage of the push chair carriage 1 as described above is that the push chair carriage 1 can be moved with a single hand from the unfolded state to the folded state and back from the folded state to the unfolded state.

[0101] FIG. 9 shows a push chair 27 comprising the push chair carriage 1 shown in FIGS. 1-8, and a child seat 28 mounted on the seat support part 5 of the upper frame 2. In practice the child seat 28 may remain on the child seat carriage 1 when the child seat carriage 1 is arranged in the folded state. The child seat is preferably made of flexible material such as cloth, fabric, or textile and may be provided with reinforcement elements such as plates. The reinforcement elements should not prevent the child seat carriage 1 to be moved to the folded state.

[0102] The push chair 1 further comprises a removable canopy 29 mounted on the upper frame 2. In the Figures only the canopy frame is shown, but in practice a flexible cloth will be mounted on the canopy frame to form a canopy 29.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0103] 1 push chair carriage

[0104] 2 upper frame

[0105] 3 lower frame

[0106] 4 operational frame

[0107] 5 seat support part

[0108] 6 push bar part

[0109] 6a push bar part locking device

[0110] 7 safety rod

[0111] 8 side panel

[0112] 9 front support rod

[0113] 10 front side panel part

[0114] 11 front wheel

[0115] 12 back support rod

[0116] 13 back side panel part

[0117] 14 back wheel

[0118] 15 front support rod sleeve

[0119] 16 back support rod sleeve

[0120] 17 double pivot axis element

[0121] 18 front connecting rod

[0122] 18a sleeve of front connecting rod

[0123] 19 back connecting rod

[0124] 19a sleeve of back connecting rod

[0125] 20 U-shaped tube

[0126] 21 hollow tube

[0127] 22 first locking device part

[0128] 23 second locking device part

[0129] 24 hook

[0130] 25 roller

[0131] 26 hand grip

[0132] 27 push chair

[0133] 28 child seat

[0134] 29 canopy

[0135] A-A first rotation axis

[0136] B-B second rotation axis

[0137] C-C third rotation axis