Bike Stroller

Abstract

A child carrier assembly is removably mountable to a bicycle and includes a seat, a backrest portion, a footrest portion, two side portions, child seating, support for a child while seated, and a docking assembly for connecting the child carrier assembly to the bicycle. The child carrier assembly functions as a convertible stroller by including a wheel assembly and a handle bar, where the docking assembly includes one part fixed to the bicycle and one part fixed to the child carrier assembly. The connection parts are releaseably mountable to one another, wherein the docking assembly includes a spring loaded mechanism that controls the releasable docking assembly by having one movable part and one fixed part. The docking assembly has a locking function so that an upper docking assembly unit fixed to the carrier assembly is dockable and undockable to a lower docking assembly unit fixed to the bicycle.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A child carrier assembly adapted to be removably mounted to a bicycle, said carrier assembly comprising a seat, a backrest portion, a footrest portion, two side portions, means for seating a child and means for supporting a child while seated, a docking assembly for connecting said child carrier assembly to said bicycle, wherein said child carrier assembly is adapted to function as a convertible stroller by means of comprising a wheel assembly and a handle bar, wherein said docking assembly comprises one part being fixed to said bicycle and one part being fixed to said child carrier assembly, wherein said connection parts being releaseably mountable to one another, wherein said docking assembly comprises a spring loaded mechanism and wherein said spring loaded mechanism controls said releasable docking assembly by means of comprising one movable part and one fixed part, wherein the docking assembly has a locking function so that an upper docking assembly unit fixed to said carrier assembly is dockable and undockable to a lower docking assembly unit fixed to said bicycle.

14. The child carrier assembly according to claim 13, wherein the upper docking assembly unit comprises two separate unlocking handles.

15. The child carrier assembly according to claim 13, wherein the child carrier assembly comprises a unit for controlling that the upper docking assembly unit and hence child carrier assembly is locked to the lower docking assembly unit.

16. The child carrier assembly according to claim 13, wherein said locking function is part of said docking assembly and said locking function is locked and opened without having to use any external tool.

17. The child carrier assembly according to claim 13, wherein said wheel assembly of said stroller has at least one leg with a wheel attached.

18. The child carrier assembly according to claim 13, wherein said wheel assembly of said stroller has at least one articulated joint.

19. The child carrier assembly according to claim 13, wherein said handle bar of said stroller has at least one articulated joint.

20. The child carrier assembly according to claim 13, wherein said handle bar comprises one or more separate handles.

21. The child carrier assembly according to claim 13, wherein said assembly comprises a safety belt function.

22. The child carrier assembly according to claim 13, wherein said stroller and said carrier assembly is collapsible.

23. The child carrier assembly according to claim 13, wherein said docking assembly fixed to said carrier assembly is dockable and undockable to the docking assembly fixed to said bicycle whilst said carrier is seated by a child, by means of docking said docking assembly fixed to said carrier assembly in a vertical motion onto said docking assembly fixed to said bicycle, thereby forcing said spring loaded moveable part to move and lock said docking assembly fixed to said carrier to said docking assembly fixed to said bicycle.

24. The child carrier assembly according to claim 23, wherein said docking assembly prevents movement of said carrier assembly vertically, horizontally or a combination thereof whilst said carrier assembly is docked in said docking assembly.

25. The child carrier assembly according to claim 13, wherein the spring loaded movable part comprises two separate sliding units which are independent of each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a child carrier assembly, a docking assembly and a bicycle.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows the same as in FIG. 1, but with the child carrier assembly being docked to the bicycle.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a close up side view of the docking assembly.

[0027] FIG. 4 shows a 3D view of the docking assembly shown in FIG. 3.

[0028] FIG. 5 shows a close up side cut through view of the docking assembly in a so called closed position.

[0029] FIG. 6 shows the close up side cut through view of the docking assembly in a so called semi-closed position.

[0030] FIG. 7 shows the close up side cut through view of the docking assembly in a so called open position.

[0031] FIG. 8 shows a front view of the docking assembly as seen in FIG. 3 and a seat.

[0032] FIG. 9 shows a possible child carrier assembly model.

[0033] FIG. 10 shows the two ways the child carrier assembly is meant to be used. Mounted on a bicycle and as a stroller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The child carrier assembly 10 may be of different sizes. The carrier assembly 10 comprises of a seat with a backrest portion, a footrest portion, two side portions, means for seating a child and means for supporting the child while seated. In one embodiment the seat 15 is made up from several pieces that are joined together. In one embodiment the plastic in the seat 15 is moulded and in another embodiment the plastic in the seat 15 is formed through vacuum forming or injection moulding. The seat 15 may be made from different materials such as plastic, composite, cloth and metal.

[0035] The child carrier assembly 10 also comprises an upper docking assembly unit 11A and lower docking assembly unit 11 B for connecting the assembly 10 to a bicycle 12. Said docking assembly units 11A and 11B are made up of two dockable parts, an upper docking assembly unit (part) 11A and a lower docking assembly unit (part) 11B and in one embodiment the docking assembly units 11A and 11B may be made from a metal or from a toughened plastic.

[0036] As seen in the figures, the upper docking assembly part 11A may be connected to the seat underneath the seat 15, whereas the lower docking assembly part 11B may be connected to a bicycle 12.

[0037] The lower docking assembly part 11B may be fastened to the frame by the user on his or her bicycle 12 and stays fasted to the bicycle at all time. The lower docking assembly part 11B may in one embodiment be constructed of a clamp 31 for connecting to a bicycle frame and a hoop 43 made from a metal pipe. The hoop 43 being connected in its one end to the clamp and being elongated and curved in an angle away from the connection clamp 31. For extra sturdiness the hoop 43 may have one or more rods 46 placed in between the hoop 43 pipes. At least one metal connection rod 44 is placed in between the hoop 43 pipes.

[0038] The connection rod 44 is used for attaching the upper docking assembly 11A to the lower docking assembly 11B. In one embodiment, more than one connection rod 44 may be used and in one embodiment the stabilizing rods 46 may be used as connection rods.

[0039] As seen in FIG. 3, the child carrier assembly 10 may also comprise unit (80) for controlling that the upper docking assembly unit (11A) and hence child carrier assembly (10) is locked to the lower docking assembly unit (11B). In this case the unit (80) is positioned on the upper docking assembly unit 11A.

[0040] The lower docking assembly part 11B may be purchased or may be delivered lose for the user to fastened. In one embodiment, the upper and lower docking assembly units, 11A and 11B, may be releaseably connected to one another.

[0041] The docking assembly units 11A and 11B comprise a spring loaded mechanism for controlling the docking between the lower docking assembly unit 11B and the upper docking assembly unit 11A. The spring loaded mechanism controls the releasable docking assembly by means of comprising one movable part and one fixed part. The movable part may in one embodiment be a flat iron 51 that is connected to the lower docking assembly unit 11B via an arrangement that lets the flat iron 51 move in a predetermined track 52. The flat iron may move in one specified direction and having a set distance that it may move. The flat iron 51, or in two pieces 51a and 51b as discussed below, may have a cavity space 53 and said cavity space 53 may be shaped to create a hook like cavity. The flat iron 51 may also have a slanted part 54.

[0042] At least one spring 55 is connected to the movable flat iron 51 and said spring 55 is holding the flat iron 51 in tension. Once the child carrier assembly 10 is being lowered onto the lower part of the docking assembly 11B, guiding flanges may help to guide the hoop 43 in the right position and once the connection rod 44 hits the slanted part 54 of the movable flat iron 51, the flat iron 51 is pushed to move and thereby tensing the spring 55.

[0043] Once the connection rod 44 has moved the flat iron 51 a predetermined distance, the connection rod 44 may fit inside the cavity space 53 and the spring 55 retracts the flat iron 51 to its originated state thereby closing the cavity space 53 and locking the connection rod 44 in place. The child carrier assembly 10 will no longer be able to move in any direction.

[0044] In one embodiment the flat iron 51 may be locked in the retracted state, hence allow locking the child carrier assembly 10 to the docking assembly units 11A and 11B. In one embodiment the release of the child carrier assembly 10 is carried out by the user pushing a release button or unit 41. Said release button or unit 41 may be connected to the flat iron 51 and the flat iron 51 is thereby being controlled by the user. Since the docking assembly units 11A and 11B allows for simple docking and undocking with only a few necessary steps, this allows that the child is being seated during the entire procedure.

[0045] According to one specific embodiment of the present invention, the spring loaded movable part 51 comprises two separate sliding units 51a, 51b which are independent of each other. This is seen in FIGS. 5-7. In FIG. 5 the child carrier assembly 10 is in a locked position, which is seen by the position of units (parts, rods) in the tracks 52 and cavity space 53. As there are two separate sliding units 51a and 51b these are not dependent on each other and as such it is possible to obtain an arrangement where two different actions are needed to unlock the assembly. This is further understood from viewing FIGS. 6 and 7 where it is seen a locked position in FIG. 6 and a semi-locked position in FIG. 7.

[0046] As notable in FIGS. 5-7, the upper docking assembly unit 11A comprises two separate unlocking handles 41a and 41b which in turn are connected to respective sliding unit 51a and 51b to enable for the user to lock, open and semi-lock the upper docking assembly unit 11A to the lower docking assembly unit 11B.

[0047] The child carrier assembly 10 is adapted to function as a convertible stroller by means of comprising a wheel assembly 13. The wheel assembly 13 may in one embodiment be made from a rigid pipe structure that is being attached to the seat 15. The wheel assembly 13 may comprise a set of four wheels 14, but may also comprise fewer than four and more than four wheels. Said wheels 14, may be connected to the wheel assembly 13 or may be attached directly to the seat 15.

[0048] The wheel assembly 13 may in one embodiment comprise one or more lockable articulated joints 17A. These joints give the user the possibility to fold the wheel assembly 13 and thereby minimizing the size of the child carrier assembly 10. This may, in one embodiment, be done both when having the child carrier assembly 10 connected to the bicycle 12 as well as when storing the child carrier assembly 10. The articulated joints 17 A have, in one embodiment, more than one possible setting option which allows for the user to i.e. set the angle of the seat 15.

[0049] The child carrier assembly 10 comprises, in one embodiment, a handlebar 16. Said handlebar 16 may be constructed from a rigid pipe structure and it may be of a rigid type or may like the wheel assembly 13 have articulated joints 17 B. In one embodiment the handlebar 16 is made from a single push bar, with space for both hands, connecting one side of the wheel assembly 13 to the other. In one embodiment the handle bar 16 may be folded when the child carrier assembly 10 is docked to the bicycle 12.

[0050] In one embodiment the seat 15 and the wheel assembly 13 of the child carrier assembly 10 may be constructed so it will allow the user to collapse the child carrier assembly 10 widthwise. This feature along with the possibility to fold the wheel assembly 13 and fold the handle bar 16 will minimize the storage space needed for the child carrier assembly when not used. It will also allow the user to more easily transport and move the child carrier assembly 10 around when no child is seated.

[0051] In one embodiment the handle bar 16 is made from two or more single hand push bars/handles running on each side of the wheel assembly 13. Having separated push bars/handles may be particularly useful when the stroller is of a collapsible type.

[0052] In one embodiment the child carrier assembly 10 may comprise a safety belt 71. Said safety belt 71 is constructed to keep the seated child in the seat 15 and prevent the child from falling out. It may be used both when using the child carrier assembly 10 as a stroller and when the child carrier assembly 10 is docked to a bicycle 12.

[0053] In one embodiment the child carrier assembly 10 is equipped with at least one handle bar placed i.e. at the front of the seat 15, the back of the seat 15 and/or at the sides of the seat 15. Said handle bar/bars is for the user to hold the child carrier assembly 10 when lifting it up and down front the docking assembly. The handle bar/bars may also be used for the seated child to hold on to while travelling.