U.S. patent application number 09/805052 was filed with the patent office on 2002-02-07 for locking device with safety arrangement for collapsable stroller.
Invention is credited to Huang, Ying-Yuan.
Application Number | 20020014752 09/805052 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 4620679 |
Filed Date | 2002-02-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020014752 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huang, Ying-Yuan |
February 7, 2002 |
Locking device with safety arrangement for collapsable stroller
Abstract
A locking device for collapsable stroller is located at the
gripping portion of handle. The locking device comprises a housing,
a pair of meshed driving members in the housing pivotal in opposite
directions a push button engaged with driving members, and a pair
of steel cables coupled to the driving members. Whereby press push
button to pull steel cables toward the center of gripping portion,
thereby unlocking the latches so as to unfold the stroller. The
stroller further comprises a safety mechanism at the upper side of
one driving member. Safety mechanism comprises a pawl-like member
blocks the push button in the locked state of the stroller, thus
preventing latches from accidentally being unlocked.
Inventors: |
Huang, Ying-Yuan; (Chia-I,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
4620679 |
Appl. No.: |
09/805052 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/47.25 ;
280/647 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62B 7/06 20130101; B62B
9/20 20130101; B62B 2205/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/47.25 ;
280/647 |
International
Class: |
B62B 007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 26, 2000 |
TW |
00 2 28933.4 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A locking device mounted on a collapsable stroller, said
stroller including a locking device and a frame having a handle and
a plurality of sets of wheels rotatably mounted under said frame,
said locking device located at said handle of said stroller, said
locking device comprising: a housing including a receiving space; a
push button being slidable in said housing including a projected
activation portion and an engagement portion; a pair of driving
members connected pivotably to said handle and corresponding said
push button, each of said driving members having a first cam and a
second cam; and a pair of steel cables each having one end coupled
to said locking device and the other end coupled to said first cam;
whereby press said push button toward inside of said housing to
pivot said driving members in opposite directions for pulling said
steel cables toward the center of said housing.
2. The locking device of claim 1, wherein said frame further
comprises a plurality of front legs, a plurality of rear legs, and
a pair of latches.
3. The locking device of claim 2, wherein each latch comprises a
latch pin and a spring attached to said latch pin.
4. The locking device of claim 1, wherein said housing further
comprises an upper portion and a lower portion.
5. The locking device of claim 1, wherein said driving members are
overlapped and pivotably connected to the same point of said
handle.
6. The locking device of claim 1, wherein said handle comprises a
gripping portion and two arms.
7. A locking device mounted on a collapsable stroller, said
stroller including a frame having a handle and a plurality of sets
of wheels rotatably mounted under said frame, said locking device
located at said handle of said stroller, said locking device
comprising: a housing including a receiving space; a push button
being slidable in said housing including a projected activation
portion, an engagement portion, a blocking side and a releasing
groove; a pair of driving members connected pivotably to said
handle corresponding said push button, each of said driving members
having a first cam and a second cam; a pair of steel cables each
having one end coupled to said locking device and the other end
coupled to said first cam; and a safety mechanism slidably mounted
on said housing, said safety mechanism including a projected
activation portion and a pawl-like member blocking said blocking
side of said push button for inhibiting said push button from
moving toward said housing; whereby push said activation portion of
said safety mechanism to let said safety mechanism pivot so that
said pawl-like member leaves said blocking side for position
corresponding said releasing groove, and press said push button
toward inside of said housing to pivot said gear sections and said
driving members in opposite directions for pulling said steel
cables toward the center of said housing.
8. The locking device of claim 7, wherein said safety mechanism
further comprises a torsional spring in said receiving space
maintains said pawl-like member to block said blocking side of said
push button when said locking device is not manipulated.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to strollers and more
particularly to a locking device with an additional safety
mechanism for collapsable stroller.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] Collapsable strollers has been used around the world.
Typically, a locking device is mounted on such a collapsable
stroller. In collapsing the stroller, first rotate the locking
device to move connecting rods up, thereby disengaging sliding
blocks from catches. Then, user may collapse the stroller in this
unlocked position. But this is unsatisfactory for the purpose for
which the invention is concerned for the following reasons:
[0005] 1. The locking device is unsightly because it is projected
from the stroller.
[0006] 2. The collapsing operation is not simplified since, as
stated above, the locking device is required to rotate to move
connecting rods up for disengaging sliding blocks from catches
before user bends his/her back to collapse the stroller.
[0007] 3. Connecting rod is movable. Also, a gap may exist between
connecting rod and stroller frame while collapsing the stroller.
Hence, it is possible to hurt user if hands are accidentally put
into the gap.
[0008] Thus, it is desirable to provide an improved locking device
with an additional safety arrangement for collapsable stroller in
order to overcome the above drawbacks of prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a locking device for collapsable stroller whereby press
pushing portion and thus engagement portion of push button pivot
two driving members in two different opposite directions such that
two coupled steel cables are pulled toward the center of gripping
portion, thereby unlocking the latches so as to unfold the stroller
thereafter.
[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
locking device for collapsable stroller. The stroller further
comprises a safety mechanism at the upper side of one driving
member. Safety mechanism comprises a pawl-like member blocks the
push button in the locked state of the stroller, thus preventing
latches from accidentally being unlocked.
[0011] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter.
However, it should be understood that the detailed description and
specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the
invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various
changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from
this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The present invention will become fully understood from the
detailed description given hereinbelow illustration only, and thus
are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the unfolded frame of a
collapsable stroller incorporating the locking device with safety
mechanism according to the invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 schematically shows the components of locking device
and safety mechanism of the stroller shown in FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the handlebar portion
including locking device and safety mechanism of FIG. 2;
[0016] FIG. 4 schematically shows the unlocking operation of the
locking device and safety mechanism of FIG. 2; and
[0017] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the collapsed stroller
frame shown in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Referring to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1, there is
shown a collapsable stroller in accordance with the invention
comprising a frame 1 and a plurality of sets of wheels 3 rotatably
mounted under the frame 1. The frame comprises a handle 10, front
legs 11, rear legs 12, seat tubes 13, latches 14, and a locking
device 20. Handle 14 comprises a gripping portion 101 and two arms
102. Latch 14 comprises a latch pin 141 and a helical spring 142.
User may manipulate locking device 20 to control the locking or
unlocking of latch pin 141 for unfolding the stroller in a use
position as shown in FIG. 1 or folding the stroller in a storage
position as shown in FIG. 5.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 specifically, locking device 20
located at the gripping portion 101 of the handle 10 comprises a
housing 201, a pair of opposite driving members 202, a push button
203, a pair of steel cables 204, and a safety mechanism 205.
Housing 201 comprises an upper portion 2011, a lower portion 2012,
and a space 2013 enclosed by portions 2011 and 2012. Each driving
member 202 is pivotably connected to gripping portion 101 of handle
10. Driving member 202 comprises a first cam 2021 coupled to one
end of steel cable 204 and a second cam 2022. Push button 203
comprises a projected activation portion 2031 and an engagement
portion 2032. Push button 203 is located at the underside of
driving members 202 and slidable in housing 201.
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 specifically, the operation of
locking device 20 will now be described. As shown, press activation
portion 2031 (and thus engagement portion 2032) of push button 203
to cause second cams 2022 of driving members 202 to pivot in
opposite directions. Thus first cams 2021 are pivoted toward each
other to substantially overlay. Hence, two steel cables 204 are
pulled toward each other (i.e., toward the center of gripping
portion 101. At the same time, latch pins 141 coupled to the other
ends of steel cables 204 are activated for unlocking the latches 14
in response to the pulling movement of steel cables 204. Thus, user
may fold the stroller. In unfolding the stroller, springs 142 in
the arms 102 are expanded to return to original unbiased state for
causing push button 203 and driving members 202 to return to their
positions in the locked state of stroller.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4 specifically, an additional
safety mechanism 205 is slidably mounted on the housing 201 for
preventing latch pins 141 from accidentally unlocked. Safety
mechanism 205 comprises a torsional spring 5 in the space 2013, a
pawl-like member 2051, and a projected activation portion 2052. And
the push button 203 including a blocking side 2033 and a releasing
groove 2034. In the locked position, pawl-like member 2051 of
safety mechanism 205 blocks the blocking side 2033 of the push
button 203, thus inhibiting the push button 203 from moving toward
the housing 201. And the torsional spring 5 maintains the safety
mechanism 205 at this position. In collapsing the stroller, push
activation portion 2052 to let safety mechanism 205 pivot so that
pawl-like member 2051 leaves the blocking side 2033 for position
corresponding the releasing groove 2034. Then push button 203
toward inside the housing 201, and user is allowed to fold the
stroller. In view of above, the safety of manipulating stroller is
greatly enhanced.
[0022] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that
the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be
regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,
and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in
the art are intended to be included within the scope of the
following claims.
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